BILIN (West Bank), Dec 19: Demonstrators hurled their shoes at Israeli security forces on Friday in a protest against the West Bank separation barrier, following in the footprints of a now famous Iraqi journalist.

Similar protests in the past near the village of Bilin have often ended with young Palestinians throwing rocks at Israeli troops who generally respond by firing tear gas and rubber-coated bullets.

This time, many of the 500 or so protesters hurled shoes instead, in tribute to the journalist who made international headlines and was jailed for throwing his footwear at US President George W. Bush in Baghdad.

“We want to demonstrate our support to Iraqi journalist Muntazer Al-Zeidi and say that like the Iraqis, we are opposed to the occupation,” one of the organisers of the protest told AFP.

Truce ends

Hamas, the Islamic movement controlling Gaza, said it had ended its six-month truce with Israel and would respond to any attack on the impoverished and besieged Palestinian territory.

“The ceasefire is over and there won’t be a renewal because

the Zionist enemy has not respected its conditions,” armed wing

of Hamas, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said shortly after

6am.

Two rockets were fired by Palestinian militants from the southern Gaza Strip into southern Israel following the announcement, an Israeli military spokeswoman said, but they caused no injuries or material damage.

Both Hamas and Israel have said they would respond when attacked, but neither has yet said it will go on the offensive.

“We issue a warning to the Zionist enemy: all attacks against the Gaza Strip or any new crime will trigger a large-scale confrontation and we will retaliate very fiercely,” said a statement on the website of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.—Agencies