Hamas official vows group will rearm

GAZA, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A Hamas official said Monday that despite the militant organization's new short-term truce with Israel, it would maintain rearming efforts.

Abu Obeida spokesman for Hamas's Izzadin Kassam military wing, said while efforts to limits arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip are taking place, his organization will continue to obtain weapons, The Jerusalem Post reported.

"Do what you like, but the manufacturing of holy weapons is our goal," Obeida said in Gaza.

"Bringing arms into Gaza is not smuggling. The natural situation would be for all Arab and Muslim countries, along with the rest of the free world, to officially allow weapons into the Strip ... . Meanwhile, we believe it is our right to bring arms in any way we see fit."

Debkafile said, according to sources, Israel has warned Hamas that any further arms smuggling from Iran or Syria would be seen as a violation of the regional cease-fire agreement.

Meanwhile, Obeida downplayed Israeli reports that the country's three-week military actions in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 500 gunmen, the Post said. Obeida claimed actual Hamas fatalities from the Gaza conflict totaled only 48 gunmen.