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Hamas claims responsibility for attack that killed eight

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GAZA, March 7 (RIA Novosti) - Palestinian radical group Hamas claimed responsibility Friday for Thursday's library shooting in Jerusalem that left eight dead and ten injured.

A Palestinian gunman shot eight students dead, before being gunned down, in the library of a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem, in the worst terrorist attack the city had seen in four years.

A Hamas radio presenter said the attack was "a great victory granted by Allah," and a "promised massive and staggering response to crimes" perpetrated by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

More than 120 Palestinians, many of them women and children, were killed this week in Israeli military operations in Gaza, which has been controlled by Hamas since a bloody conflict with the moderate pro-presidential group Fatah last June.

Israeli military officials said the gunman was from Arab-dominated East Jerusalem. Residents in this area are able to travel to any part of Israel, a right denied to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

Israeli authorities imposed major security measures in the West Bank and Jerusalem following the attack.

The leaders of Israel, most world powers, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, which came just after a visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who persuaded Abbas to resume peace talks with Israel.

The Palestinian leader broke off the negotiations in protest against Israeli military's offensive in Gaza.

Israel and the Palestinian National Authorities are yet to make formal statements on the future of peace talks.

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