hamas rejects ceasefire

Hamas has vowed to rearm in defiance of any Israeli and international efforts to prevent the Islamist militant group from replenishing its arsenal of rockets and other weapons after the Gaza war.

"Do whatever you want. Manufacturing the holy weapons is our mission and we know how to acquire weapons," Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, told a news conference.

Addressing journalists with his face masked by a checkered Arab scarf, he said "all options would be open" if Israel failed to pull its troops out of the Gaza Strip within a week - a demand raised by Hamas when it announced on Sunday a ceasefire after three weeks of fighting.

Israel - which has declared its own ceasefire - has threatened to renew military action if Hamas tries to smuggle more weapons into the Gaza Strip.

Israel wants Egypt to prevent arms from reaching Palestinian militants through tunnels running under the border with the Gaza Strip.

Israel signed a security accord with the United States on Friday (local time) which calls for increased information-sharing, technical assistance and the use of various US 'assets' to prevent weapons from getting to Hamas from air, land or sea.

-Reuters

Dave R.