The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denied on Monday reports that its leaders abroad, mainly in Syria, would return to Gaza after Israel pulls out from the strip in August.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters that Hamas leaders' return to Gaza was currently not on the group's agenda.

Abu Zuhri said it was a legitimate right of any Palestinian living outside the territories to come back, but he denied media reports on Hamas leaders' return.

Earlier reports said leaders of the Palestinian factions, including Islamic Hamas and Jihad, mainly based in Damascus, were considering returning to Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal.

The reports said the leaders would return once Israel ends its control of the passages and crossings in the Gaza Strip.

Israel is set to evacuate all the 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank in mid August, marking the first time that the Jewish state gives up land seized during the 1967 Mideast War.

Source: Xinhua