Ruler of the Gaza Strip Hamas movement has been holding consultations with militant groups in the coastal enclave "to prevent any violation from the Palestinian side in order to avoid a new Israeli aggression," a Hamas official said Saturday.

Mushier Al-Massri, a parliament member, said Israel would have to shoulder the responsibility for any new escalation, responding to reports that Israel had given Hamas an ultimatum to stop smaller factions from firing rockets into Israel by Saturday evening.

However, the official neither confirm nor deny the reports.

Meanwhile, al-Massri said Egypt continues its contacts and efforts to reinforce the unofficial ceasefire between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, adding the Egyptian efforts were renewed after the ceasefire was violated several times over the past weeks.

Israel raided workshops and open spaces in Gaza, while militants firing missiles into Israel after the ceasefire took effect on Tuesday. But the violations saw no casualties and were less intensive than the previous four days in which 26 Palestinians were killed.