Islamic Jihad movement announced Sunday its rejection to any ceasefire deal with Israel, threatening to avenge a series of Israeli assassinations against its fighters.
"The Islamic Jihad has no room to discuss this issue at this time as ten of its leaders were killed, including Majed al-Harrazin, the general commander of the movement's armed wing and a number of resistance men," said a senior Jihad member Khaled al-Batsh.
Earlier, an aide to Hamas leader Ismail Haneya in Gaza said his movement welcomes a ceasefire with Israel if the latter respected it. Reports say that Hamas held indirect contacts with Israel to secure calmness in the Hamas-run Gaza.
"We, the Islamic Jihad, can not speak about ceasefire before the criminals pay the price of their aggression," al-Batsh asserted.
He added that Israel recognize the ceasefire as an attempt to calm down the situation following its recent military escalation in the Gaza Strip where tens of fighters have died in various Israeli raids.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected a proposed cease-fire with Hamas' in the Gaza Strip, saying that the government would not talk with the Islamist group until it recognizes Israel, local media reported.
During a weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert said that "The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with entities that do not recognize the (international) Quartet demands," adding Israeli army's clash with Hamas and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) militants in Gaza are nothing short of a war.
Source: Xinhua
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