A senior Islamic Hamas movement leader in Gaza said on Monday that his movement does not oppose reaching a new long-term ceasefire agreement with Israel.

"Hamas has no objections to reach a new Tahde'a (truce) with Israel, but this truce should not be on the expense of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights," said Salah el-Bardawil in a statement.

Since the end of a 22-day Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip on Jan. 18, Hamas armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades refrained from firing any medium or long-range rockets at Israel.

But other minor militant groups in Gaza continued launching homemade rockets at southern Israeli communities in the vicinity of the enclave. Israel held Hamas responsible for not reining in these attacks.

Meanwhile, Ayam Taha, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said he hopes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would discuss the renewal of the truce in his talks in Egypt in the day with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt brokered a six-month truce between Gaza militant groups, led by Hamas and Israel effective on July 19 in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the end of the ceasefire, Israel carried out its military offensive.

On Friday, senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar declared that Israel and Egypt would discuss the renewal of the truce on Monday, saying that "if Israel accepts Hamas conditions, a truce agreement will be reached."

Hamas conditions the truce with Israel on reopening the borders crossings, lifting the two-year Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and ending all forms of Israeli military actions in Gaza.