Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected a Hamas ceasefire offer asserting that the Army will continue operations in Gaza to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens even as five Palestinians, including a Hamas militant, were killed in two separate missile strikes.

"Words are irrelevant. The IDF (Israel Defence Force) is taking needed measures to ensure the peace of Israel's citizens. That's what it has to do, and that's what will be done," Sharon told Israel Radio.

Earlier yesterday (Oct 02, 2004), Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyah, had offered that his organisation will stop firing Qassam rockets at Israeli towns, if Israel stops its "aggression".

Meanwhile, senior Hamas militant Mahadi Mustaha was killed after the Israeli Air Force launched a missile strike at his car in Northern Gaza strip yesterday evening, the Army said in a statement.

Another militant, Haled Amariti, who was accompanying him also died in the attack.

"Mushtaha, 34, was the manager of workshops and labs producing components of the Qassam rockets," it said.

Amariti, 28, according to the Israeli Army, specialised in training of recruits.

Dozens of Hamas militants rushed to the morgue where one of the men's bodies was taken, waving their fists in the air and shouting for revenge.

The Gaza City strike came shortly after an air strike in the Jabalya refugee camp, in which three people were killed.

Security sources said that the target of the attack was a group of militants who were planting an explosive device.