A spokesman for the deposed Hamas government in Gaza said on Saturday that Hamas would restore truce if Israel and the Palestinian factions reach a ceasefire agreement.

Taher al-Noono said in a statement sent to reporters that there are Egyptian efforts to reach a mutual ceasefire (with Israel) in the Gaza Strip, adding "the government is ready to keep it."

The last truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups, including Hamas movement, was for six months, which ended on December 19. A week after, Israel carried out a 22-day large-scale military offensive on Gaza.

"Our government is following up with concerns that Egyptian efforts on different levels, especially the files of the national dialogue and the file of the truce...to restore calm and settlement in the region," said al-Noono.

He also asserted that his government, deposed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in June 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza by force, "would restore the national accordance in case a truce agreement is reached and accepted."

Israel said that it carried out its 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip to rein on militant groups, mainly Hamas movement which rules the enclave, and stop them from firing homemade rockets from Gaza at Israel.

Al-Noono said that "ending the occupation and lifting the blockade are the keys to achieve settlement and reach a just peace in the region that brings our people their legitimate rights back."

In spite of Hamas and Islamic Jihad denial that they are ready to accept a truce with Israel soon, the two groups refrained from firing homemade rockets from Gaza at Israel since the end of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on January 18.