Gaza - Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip on Thursday slammed the ongoing rocket attacks against Israel and pledged to stop them.

Hamas has "no relations with the rockets that are being fired from Gaza. They are being fired in the wrong time and we confirm the security services are following up those who stand behind these rockets," the Hamas Interior Ministry said.

The statement came after a new group calling itself Hezbollah of Palestine had begun firing rockets against Israel every few days and claiming responsibility for these attacks.

But Hamas sources said Hezbollah of Palestine "was a fake name used by more than one side to carry out actions away from the national understanding."

Israeli army officials have said that, as the controlling force in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is responsible for the attacks.

Hezbollah of Palestine first drew attention to itself after a fragile six-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel expired in December 2008.

Since the end of the three-week-long conflict on January 18, about 170 rockets and mortars have been targeted against Israel. Since then, a shaky ceasefire has been in place between the two sides. (dpa)