Hamas reiterated Saturday that it would forcefully resist the deployment of a multi-national force in the Gaza Strip.

The group's armed wing, the Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement that they would regard "any foreign force as an occupying force, and we will respond decisively."

Hamas issued similar warnings when the proposal to deploy a multinational force was initially made after Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip a few weeks ago.

"We will not receive them with roses, but with rockets and shells," Hamas members vowed Saturday.





Hamas forces in Gaza (Photo: AFP)

Senior Hamas officials stressed their intent to appeal to Arab nations with the demand that they too actively oppose such an initiative.

Referring to Arab entities in support of the move, and especially Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Hamas spokesperson said: "Only those helpless ones, who take orders from external elements, support the deployment of a multinational force (in Gaza)."

"They are running and crying for the help of international forces to carry out their disgraceful plan. And this is after the Palestinian people rejected the plan and threw its representatives into the dumpster of history," Hamas representatives said.

Meanwhile, Abbas met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris Friday to discuss the proposal. Abbas also called for early general elections under the security supervision of foreign forces.