The deposed government of Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza hinted in an official statement sent to reporters on Monday to carry out measures in the field to halt firing homemade rockets at Israel.

Spokesman of Hamas government Taher al-Nounu said in the statement that the government would take measures to preserve "the highest interests of our people and the national consensus."

He called on the Palestinian factions and Gaza militant groups "to agree on a national accordance that draws up a certain mechanism in dealing with the changes on the ground with Israel."

Al-Nounu referred in his statement to the mounting Israeli military actions carried out recently against the Gaza Strip. At least ten Palestinians were killed in Israeli air and ground strikes on the enclave within the last ten days.

Although al-Nounu's statements were an implication to halting firing homemade rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel, he said "it is the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves."

Al-Nounu declined to give any details related to what kind of measures Hamas government would take "in order to preserve the highest national Palestinian interests."

However, well-informed Palestinian sources in Hamas government told Xinhua in condition of anonymity that police forces will soon deploy and carry out field campaigns to prevent firing rockets from Gaza at Israel.

The sources said that such measures would be agreed upon the nearest future with all Palestinian factions and armed groups in the Gaza Strip "in order not to give Israel (any excuse) to carry out more attacks against Gaza."

The sources revealed that Hamas officials had held in the last few days intensive meetings and talks with leaders and representatives of different factions and armed groups to study halting rocket attacks on Israel.

Hamas Minister of Interior Fathi Hammad had earlier revealed that there has been an agreement reached between Hamas and other Palestinian factions to halt arbitrary rocket attacks at Israel.

A fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is still valid since the end of the 22-day Israeli Cast Lead military offensive on the enclave on Jan. 18 last year, during which more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2010)