GAZA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which leads the Palestinian unity government, urged militant groups on Sunday to get ready for a new round of violence against Israel.

    In a statement sent to reporters, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom called on the militant factions "to unite and use all means of resistance to respond to the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation."

    The call comes after at least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours.

    Hamas also asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to stop future meetings with any Israeli official. Abbas has earlier agreed to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert biweekly. The Israeli attacks, mostly in the West Bank, were the bloodiest since the Jewish state and the Palestinian militants agreed to a limited ceasefire deal covering the Gaza Strip last November.

    Meanwhile, Abbas' Fatah movement has condemned the recent Israeli military escalation as a bid to "undermine efforts of reviving the peace process."

    Fatah warned Israel not to continue targeting members of its armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, in order not to draw reactions.