A Palestinian militant group participating in Egyptian-mediated ceasefire talks vowed fresh attacks on Israel and said in statement today it would not abide by any agreement to stop.
Islamic Jihad's statement appeared to skewer expectations that Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Korei could come away from talks in Cairo among 13 Palestinian militant groups with an agreement to cease attacks on Israelis.
Such an agreement is seen as a critical step towards salvaging a US-backed "road map", which envisions an end to violence and a Palestinian state by 2005.
"We remain committed to the choice of resistance as a strategic (one) to...dismiss the occupation from our land," said the statement issued by the Islamic Jihad's armed wing in Gaza.
"We will not abide by any agreement or any dialogue that will abandon these principles...and our painful reaction in the heart of (Israel) will not be delayed," the statement added.
Earlier Hamas, the militant group spearheading suicide attacks against Israel, said it and the other groups meeting in Cairo, including Islamic Jihad, would only consider a ceasefire if Israel halted attacks first.
Islamic Jihad said fresh attacks would serve as revenge for Israeli operations and the expulsion of eight Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip on Thursday.