Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Monday denied allegations that key Palestinian factions have agreed to freeze rocket attacks on Israel to avoid Israeli offensives into Gaza.

    "The resistance against the occupation is a legitimate right and Hamas will not stop responding to the ongoing Israeli occupation crimes against the Palestinian people," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom told reporters in Gaza.

    A Lebanese newspaper on Monday quoted "well-informed sources" as saying that the Palestinian factions in Gaza agreed to halt the rocket attacks following reports that Israel will invade the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

    Israel blames Hamas for the rocket attacks on the southern communities of the Jewish state since the Islamic movement took over Gaza in mid June after routing security forces loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

    Early March, Israel staged a deadly ground military operation in northern Gaza Strip, leaving around 130 Palestinians killed, in retaliation for the rocket attacks.

    Egypt leads efforts to help reinforce a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but has made slow progress so far.