Ramallah: Accusing Israel of plotting Yasser Arafat's murder, Palestinian militant group Hamas today (Nov 11, 2004) said that it has strengthened its resolve to keep up attacks on Israel, amidst renewed calls for a unified Palestinian leadership comprising all factions.

"The loss of the great leader will increase our determination and steadfastness to continue Jihad and resistance against the Zionist enemy until victory and liberation is achieved," Hamas said in statement.

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Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas's spokesman in Gaza, has called upon its members to honour the memory of its leader and maintain Palestinian unity.

"We lost by his death one of our great symbols and one of the main focus of our national struggle and identity," Abu Zuhri told local media.

The tone of the Islamic Jihad however was milder. Islamic Jihad spokesman in Gaza, Nafez Arzam, said, "with hearts full of belief in God's we mourn President Yasser Arafat who was a great leader for the Palestinian people."

"This is a time for unity, steadfastness. We are all one people fighting for our freedom and to liberate our land," Mohammad Al-Hindi, a top leader for Islamic Jihad said.

"We are looking to see a smooth transfer of authority within Fatah at this stage and later all issues must be discussed including the formation of a unified national leadership or an emergency leadership formed up by all factions," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal accused Israel of plotting Arafat's murder in an interview to Al Jazeera network.