Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have agreed not to fire rockets into Israel to avoid a possible military backlash, Hamas' interior minister said Saturday.

"We have reached agreement that nobody will take any action involving rockets for the time being," Fathi Hammad was quoted as saying.

He added, however, that the resistance would continue, but should "proceed in the framework of a general agreement."

He also denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' claim that Hamas was seeking secret negotiations with Israel.

Israel launched an offensive operation, code-named Operation Cast Lead, in late December to stop eight years of cross-border rocket attacks.

Israel says around 1,100 Gazans were killed during the three-week campaign, mostly militants. But Palestinian human rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed, mostly civilians. 

GAZA, November 21 (RIA Novosti)