GAZA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Tuesday denied Israel's accusations that it was responsible for launching a rocket against Israel.
Khader Habib, leader of Islamic Jihad, told Xinhua that Israel has been inciting his group for some time, accusing it of attempting to escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip.
What Israel said is "false and baseless accusations, and Islamic Jihad is part of the national consensus in the Gaza Strip," Habib said.
The leader of the Islamic Jihad accused Israel of shifting attention from its siege on the Gaza Strip.
Earlier in the day, Israel announced a further reduction of the fishing zone for Gaza to six nautical miles.
Avichai Adarei, Israeli army spokesman, said the Israeli move was a response to the launch of a rocket from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Monday.
Adarei accused Islamic Jihad of being behind the shelling that landed in an uninhabited area of the city of Ashdod without causing injury or damage.
Earlier this month, Israel eased restrictions on the work of fishermen in Gaza and increased the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles in an attempt to promote a truce with Palestinian factions.
