In the Occupied Territories, an Israeli military court has ordered fifteen Hamas officials to go on trial for membership in an outlawed organization. The group includes twelve elected parliamentarians and two cabinet members. They are among dozens of Hamas political leaders who have been rounded up since the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Abdul Aziz Duaik, the Palestinian speaker of parliament, was brought before the court shackled in chains. Defense attorneys say Israel is trying to punish Hamas for winning this year’s elections and that the Hamas officials do not recognize the legality of the court. Meanwhile in Gaza, a leading Hamas official has called on militants to stop firing rockets into Israel. In a letter to local newspapers, Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad said the attacks are hurting the Palestinian cause. He wrote: “We have lost our sense of direction.”