JERUSALEM, Feb 18: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that Israel would maintain the tighter blockade that it has imposed on the Gaza Strip since last month.

“We will continue to apply sanctions that are hurtful to

the needs of the (Palestinian) population in order for it to be clear that living conditions cannot be altered only from our side,” he told the parliamentary group of his Kadima party in allusion to near daily rocket fire from Gaza.

“Hamas bears responsibility for everything that goes on in the Gaza Strip, and it matters little whether it is or is not directly responsible for any given incident,” army radio quoted him as telling the MPs.—AFP