The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Thursday said it was still trying to reach a power-sharing deal with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement but not at the expense of anti-Israel resistance.

Hamas is interested in the national dialogue, especially the upcoming round which will be held in Cairo on Saturday, said Mahmoud Zahar, a Gaza-based member of Hamas' politburo. "But this can never be done at the expense of the resistance."

"We have been flexible to the furthest point but this can not be at the expense of the Palestinian people's rights and interests too," he continued.

Hamas and Fatah will meet again in Cairo this week, trying to form a unity government or finding common points that would enable Hamas to continue controlling Gaza in arrangement with Fatah until holding elections early next year.

Fatah demands that the political platform of the government must meet international criteria while Hamas refuses to join or recognize any government that is open to Israel.

Egypt proposed that Hamas continues ruling Gaza and Fatah keeps ruling the West Bank but with mutual liaison between the two administration until the time of the elections. The fifth round of dialogue is expected to decide on this proposal.

The political ties between Gaza and the West Bank were cut in June 2007 after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of the coastal Strip. Abbas formed a Western-backed government in the West Bank and the international community boycotted Hamas's regime in Gaza.