Related: Israeli forces bomb roads in northern Gaza

    GAZA, Feb. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) asserted on Saturday that there will be no truce with Israel as long as its army keeps carrying on with its military offensive in the Palestinian territories.

    Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri made the statements in response to earlier statements of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Israeli Television Channel 10 that Hamas is trying to halt firing rockets at Israel and calming the Palestinian streets.

    Hamas movement, which achieved a landslide victory in the Jan. 25 legislative election, would also form the new Palestinian government.

    "It is the right of any Palestinian faction to respond to the Israeli escalation. The Tahde'aa, or truce was expired on Dec. 31, 2005," said Abu Zuhri, adding "the last experience approved that it is impossible to have any Hudna (truce) with Israel."

    Asked if Hamas would accept a truce with Israel, Abu Zuhri said "this question should be addressed to the occupation and not to Hamas. The world's community keeps quite for the Israeli crimes and asks us to recognize the occupation."

    He stressed that "the Palestinians have the right to resist the occupation by all means. Enditem