"We choose to keep up the fight in a long war of attrition, one that is painful and costly for the enemy," said Abu Obeida, spokesman of the militant group's armed wing.

He also warned that scores of people taken hostage into Gaza on October 7 last year were enduring a "very difficult" situation.

He said the "psychological and health condition of the remaining hostages has become very difficult".

His statement, broadcast on Al Jazeera, came as Israel marked the anniversary of the worst attack in its history.

The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants took 251 people hostage into Gaza, and 97 are still being held in there, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.