Leaders of the Islamic militant group Hamas rejected the declaration of a mutual ceasefire with Israel made by the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at a summit in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm el Sheikh on Tuesday.

Musheer al Masri, a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, told reporters that Abbas' declaration represents only the Palestinian National Authority's position.

"It is not necessary to represent the position of other factions including Hamas," said Masri.

"Our position is still clear that there is no ceasefire offered to the Zionist enemy without a real price. We will keep calmness only if Israel makes commitments to release all Palestinian prisoners," added Masri.

Hamas insisted that all the 8,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails must be released. The movement rejected Israeli plan to release only 900 Palestinian prisoners in two stages, 500 freed immediately after the summit and 400 over a period of three months.

"We want all prisoners to be released," Masri said. "We really feel disappointed that this summit had not achieved what our people were looking forward to being achieved."

Source: Xinhua