"We are all taking extra precautions because of the Israeli threats. Our lives are in danger, just as the lives of all Palestinians have been in danger since the start of the occupation," information minister Yusef Rizqa told AFP.

Israel launched a massive onslaught against the Gaza Strip following the June 25 capture of an Israeli soldier by militant groups, including the armed wing of the governing Islamist movement Hamas.

And an air strike Sunday against Haniya's office in Gaza City sent many of Hamas's bigwigs scurrying into hiding.

Renouncing mobile phones for fear of being tracked down, changing vehicles several times a day, using different routes and avoiding routine appointments are some of the measures adopted by the movement's leaders, said a Hamas minister who asked not to be named.

"Many ministers cannot go to their office because they are afraid of being the target of a missile attack. Haniya asked us to step up all protective measures," he said.

He said Haniya as well as several key ministers and Hamas lawmakers had started sleeping in different locations every night because of the increased threat of Israeli assassination.

"Haniya's house has been empty for days, the prime minister is currently staying with friends who have his full trust," the minister added.

Nevertheless, Rizqa vowed that "all the members of the government are bent on continuing to fulfil their duty to the Palestinian people."

When the Palestinian premier inspected the damage inflicted by the strike on his office, he was accompanied by Mahmud Abbas, the moderate president of the Palestinian Authority, who has the support of the international community.

Hamas routed the long-ruling mainstream Fatah in the January elections -- internationally acclaimed as fair and transparent -- but the government sworn in two months later has found itself acting like a clandestine organisation.

Last week, Israel arrested 64 Hamas officials -- including eight ministers and several members of parliament -- forcing the cabinet to temporarily redistribute abandoned portfolios.

Coordination between Hamas officials is done essentially by fax and the rare meetings still on the schedule are held in secret locations determined at the latest possible moment.