The armed wing of Islamic Jihad movement said Thursday that the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip does not mean an end to the conflict.

"The battle with the enemy has not ended," declared a masked gunman from al-Quds brigades.

"Our choice in fighting and getting weapons to defend our people is going on," he told at a press conference in Gaza City.

The ceasefire announced Wednesday night ended a week of cross- border violence between Israel and Palestinian armed groups led by Islamic Hamas movement, which controls Gaza.

The gunman noted that his group lost 10 fighters in the Israeli aerial offensive and fired 620 rockets and missiles towards Israeli cities.

Hamas took the credit for firing more rockets, including several that reached the outskirts of Jerusalem and some Israeli cities.

The Israeli attacks killed 162 Palestinians, more than 40 of them children. Five Israelis were dead from the Palestinian rocket fire.