A Hamas minister has announced that the party may create a Palestinian defence ministry in response to the Israel-Gaza situation.

The decision, announced during a ceremony to honour Palestinian officers on Wednesday, came in response to the latest outbreak in which more than 150 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.

Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad said the plan to develop internal military strength would prepare the region for a “fierce” war with the “merciless…remarkably stupid and extravagant” Israel.

“We are determined to liberate Palestine,” he said.

He also issued a call to boycott Israel and American goods, while calling on Arab and Muslim states to “support Palestinians in their resistance by supplying money and weapons”, according to various reports.

An IDF source confirmed that since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, more than 8000 rockets have been fired into Israel.

More than 200 Israelis were wounded in recent Gaza rocket fire.