GAZA, PALESTINE: Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement vowed Saturday (17 Jan) to continue fighting with Israel, in the wake of intensified efforts for a ceasefire to end the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesperson said in a statement that "we will continue with Jihad against Israeli occupation and the fighting of the resistance will protect our people's interests and defend our rights."

"We reject all the attempt made by any party to undermine our resistance" and "no one will stop us," said the statement.

In the statement, Barhoum also welcomed an emergency Arab summit which was held in Qatar, saying that "we hope that the results will help Palestinians to end their suffering and rebuild Gaza."

He said that the killing of Hamas' senior leader Said Siyam shows that Israel tries to "keep their spirits up" facing the tough resistance from Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Said Siam, Interior Minister of the Hamas regime in Gaza and the number three strongman in the movement, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday evening (15 Jan).

The Israeli army continued its ground operations and airstrikes on Saturday across the Gaza Strip as its air and ground military offensive goes on for the 22th successive day.

According to local medical sources, the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza has risen to 1190, with an addition of 5200 wounded. (Bernama)