Hamas threatens Israel with 'unforgettable lesson'

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades declared it had the "means and arms necessary to confront the Zionist enemy with all our force if it proceeds (further) with military operations in the Gaza Strip".

Israel has threatened to step up an offensive in the Palestinian territory, where 22 people have been killed since Thursday, in a bid to stop persistent rocket attacks and arms smuggling from Egypt.

Defence Minister Amir Peretz reiterated Monday that if necessary, Isarel would extend its military activity in Gaza and vowed to stop Hamas from strengthening itself and to weaken its ability to attack.

"I will not allow the Gaza Strip to turn into south Lebanon. We intend to take all necessary action to prevent Hamas's strengthening. We intend to act in ways to prevent it from strengthening and to weaken Hamas's ability to carry out attacks," he told reporters.

"We have considerably increased the military activity in Gaza. If we are required to extend it further, we will do so," he added.

Hitting back at accusations of militants amassing stockpiles of smuggled arms, Hamas's armed wing accused Israel of "using such allegations to justify criminal operations it seems to have decided to wage in the Gaza Strip".