ROME, April 24 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that a violation of a five-month ceasefire by Hamas was an exception and would not be repeated, while Israel should show restraint to avoid a security deterioration.

"The violation of the truce is an exceptional event that will not last," said Abbas at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome.

"I take this opportunity to appeal to Israel to show the necessary self-control so that this will not happen again."

Hamas's armed wing said it fired rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to an Israeli strike over the weekend that killed nine Palestinians.

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