The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said Tuesday that it would try to end the current tension with the Palestinian security forces despite new clashes.

Sa'eed Seyam, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, told reporters after a meeting with a visiting Egyptian delegation that although the tension between Hamas and the security forces still existed, Hamas would "continue efforts to end it as immediately as possible."

A new round of clashes erupted between the two sides earlier in the day, further straining the tension.

Hamas militants exchanged fire in the northern Gaza refugee camp of Jabalia at predawn Tuesday with the Palestinian security forces who tried to prevent Hamas militants from launching rockets on Israel.

Two Hamas members and 10 security forces soldiers were wounded.

Hours later, Hamas militants clashed with members of the mainstream Fatah movement in Gaza. Palestinian medical sources said at least 26 people were injured and three of them in critical condition.

Armed confrontation between Hamas and the security forces first flared up in the Gaza Strip last Thursday and Friday as security forces tried to stop Hamas militants from firing rockets.

Two teenagers were killed in the clashes and dozens were injured.

In order to defuse the tension, an Egyptian delegation arrived in Gaza on Sunday to try to mediate between the two sides.

Hamas, the largest Islamic militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, has insisted that Palestinian militants have the right to respond to Israeli attacks.

But the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said any retaliation for Israel's violations of the ceasefire should be first agreed upon by all the factions and the PNA.

"The Cairo agreement is clear to everyone. If there is an Israeli violation of the ceasefire, there has to be a Palestinian national consensus on the response to it," said Ibrahim Abu Naja, chief of the PNA's Follow-up Committee which groups major Palestinian militant groups to cooperate over a coming Israeli pullout from Gaza.

Seyam said the Follow-up Committee would convene on Wednesday " to discuss current outstanding issues and find a solution to the ongoing tension."

Source: Xinhua