Gaza - The Gaza-ruling Hamas movement Thursday ruled out a deal with the rival Fatah party by a July 7 deadline as President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah security forces continue a crackdown on Hamas' West Bank members.

However Ismail el-Ashqar, Hamas member on the joint reconciliation committee which held two separate meetings this week, told reporters in Gaza that despite the ongoing arrests, the committee would continue meeting.

Egypt, which is sponsoring the reconciliation dialogue, intends to invite Fatah and Hamas leaders for a final round of talks on June 28. Egypt insists the Palestinian factions sign an agreement in Cairo on July 7.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told reporters that "it has become difficult to sign on a deal with Fatah while Abbas' security forces still practise killings and kidnappings."

Barhoum read a statement saying that the joint reconciliation committee held two separate meetings in both the West Bank and Gaza and discussed the issue of political detentions.

"I'm sorry to say that one person was killed in prison due to heavy torture and dozens were detained this week in the West Bank as the committee was holding its meetings," said Barhoum.

For its part, the Fatah movement in Gaza said Hamas had seized two medical charities run by Fatah, and replaced their board members with pro-Hamas ones. Fatah said several of its activists were also detained by Hamas security this week.(dpa)