The head of Hamas said the Gaza ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, was a tactical defeat for Israel, but stressed that his movement would observe the ceasefire, DPA reported.
"It is a tactical defeat ... a step in the way of (more) defeats," Khaled Meshaal told reporters in Cairo.
"It was a mean, treacherous aggression on our people in Gaza that necessitated response and self-defence," Meshaal said, as he thanked Egypt for mediating the ceasefire.
He said that half of the weapons used in attacking Israel were manufactured in Gaza, while the rest was given to them by Iran.