A top leader of the Islamic group Hamas said this morning's bus bombing came in response to Israel's "occupation and crimes" against Palestinians, and called for more such attacks.
But he refrained from claiming the attack on the bus that killed 11 people in addition to the suicide bomber.
"The operation is part of our resistance against the [Israeli] occupation and came in response to the crimes perpetrated by that very occupation," Mr Abdul Aziz Rantissi said.
"If Israel wants to stop the bloodshed, they have to leave our land," he added. "For every crime they commit, the Israelis must expect an appropriate Palestinian answer," adding that his group would know how to defend itself against Israeli reprisals.
Earlier today, Mr Rantissi told Qatar's Al-Jazeera television channel that suicide operations must go on. "There is no reason to stop them . . . such operations must go on," he said.
"The vast majority of the Palestinian people support such attacks. Resistance is the only path to liberation".
Hamas has claimed most of the suicide operations against Israeli civilians since the start of the 25-month-long Palestinian uprising against occupation.
AFP