GAZA, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Thursday rejected any Israeli presence at the Rafah crossing on Gaza-Egypt border after an Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip.

    Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said that his movement had made this position clear to Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman during his recent visit to Gaza, warning the presence of any Israeli soldier at Rafah will provoke a cleaning by force.

    "Our armed wing Ezel el-Dein Qassam Brigades will choose the wayit sees appropriate to clean the crossing of any Jewish soldier," said Zahar.

    Rafah crossing is currently the only exit for Palestinians in Gaza to travel abroad.

    Israel has said it will retain control of Gaza's border crossings, airspace and territorial waters after withdrawal of settlers and troops protecting them.

    Israeli parliament approved an agreement Wednesday on the deployment of 750 Egyptian lightly armed border guards to replace Israeli troops stationed on Gaza's southern frontier to prevent arms smuggling. Enditem