GAZA, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Hamas revealed on Saturday names of its militant commanders in Gaza on its official website, a move described by the Palestinian security forces as a challenge to them.

    These commanders whose names were disclosed belong to the al-Qassam Brigades, an armed wing of Hamas, and most of them are wanted by Israel for involvement in anti-Israesli attacks.

    This is the first time that Hamas reveals names of its commanders.

    Most prominent among those revealed is Mohamed Deif, commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, who has remained top wanted militant by Israel since 1991.

    Deif is the successor to Sallah Shehada, founder and commander of the armed wing, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in June 2002.

    Palestinian security sources said this move by Hamas came as a challenge to the Palestinian security forces, which will take over Gaza after the Israeli army finalizes its pullout.

    Interior Minister Nasser Youssef and national security advisor Jibril Rajoub said ealier that the Palestinian security forces would disarm all militant groups right after the Israeli withdrawalis finalized.

    Hamas commander in the northern Gaza Strip Mohamed Al-Jabari, who showed up for the first time without covering his face, warned the Palestinian National Authority that his group would resist disarming it.

    Israel evacuated all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank in August, and is expected to complete the whole withdrawal from Gaza by the middle of September.

    Hamas, a radical militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, has emerged recently also as a political force, which has decided to compete with the ruling Fatah party in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Enditem