A senior Palestinian National Authority (PNA) official said Saturday that Hamas militants have expressed willingness to join the PNA security forces, a statement denied by Hamas.

Abdel Fattah Hamayel, head of a committee in charge of wanted militants, said militants from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and its armed wing Izedein al Qassam, expressed a desire to be merged into the security forces.

He told the Voice of Palestine radio that there were also some Hamas militants who refused to join and others said they need more time to consider a decision.

"Joining the security forces is not obligatory for militants, regardless of their political affiliations," said Hamayel, adding it was up to the militant himself to decide whether to join.

However, Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri denied the PNA statement, saying Hamas refused to merge its militants wanted by Israel into the Palestinian security forces.

"The idea is totally rejected as long as the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is not able to protect them," said Abu Zuhri, adding "none of the Hamas militants has asked to join the security forces."

The PNA said earlier this week that 80 militants wanted by Israel had already joined the Palestinian security forces and pledged to observe the ceasefire with Israel.

Israel has long been urging Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to disarm militants in order to move forward in the stalled peace plan.

In response, Zuhri said Hamas "in principle rejects the idea of disarming militants as long as Israel doesn't stop its daily crimes against our people."