Radical Islamic group Hamas on Saturday rejected speculation about an unconditional ceasefire with Israel, saying such an agreement would not be possible as long as Israel's Army continued to attack Palestinians.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan told the Jerusalem Post's online edition that the group was not optimistic about the possibility of a ceasefire.

Arab newspapers had reported over the weekend that Hamas and other militant Palestinian organizations wanted an unconditional ceasefire. Islamic Jihad also denied the reports on Saturday.

However, other sources in the Gaza Strip told the Jerusalem Post that some within Hamas were arguing for a truce.

Israeli officials including President Shimon Peres and cabinet minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said the daily rocket attacks fired by militants in Gaza onto Israeli cities would have to stop before negotiations with Hamas would be possible.

There have been more than 2,000 homemade Kassam rockets fired into border cities since the beginning of the year, the Army said. A military spokesman said Saturday 20 militants had been killed in Gaza this week in response to the attacks.