The military wing of Islamic Hamas movement said Sunday it will be "more proficient" in any future confrontation with Israel.

Abu Obaida, spokesman for Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, made the remarks on the day marking the one-year anniversary of Israel's large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip, which left more than 1,400 Palestinians killed.

Abu Obaida said Hamas did not stop enhancing its capabilities since the end of the three-week Israeli offensive.

Israel said it launched the war to curb Hamas' rocket attacks on its southern communities. After the war, an undeclared ceasefire became a tactic between Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the Jewish state.

However, Abu Obaida said the Israeli assault "did not essentially affect" al-Qassam groups.

In November, Israel accused Hamas of test-firing long-range rockets that were developed in Iran.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2009)