OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defence minister vowed Thursday not to let Hamas’ near takeover of Gaza spill over into violence against the Jewish state. Some Israelis are calling on the military to invade the coastal strip, but for now, the government seems more inclined to stay out of the …

DAMASCUS (AP) — A senior Hamas official in Syria said Thursday there would be no change in Gaza’s status and no Islamic rule declared in the territory after a near takeover of the seaside strip by the group.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — A Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip would deal a blow to a US peace push founded on the premise Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be capable of reining in fighters and Israel would embrace him as a partner.