Hamas says it has not agreed to recognise Israel despite a political deal reached with Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. Hamas - whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state - rejected any suggestion the deal to end its damaging power struggle with rival Fatah could imply it now accepts Israel's existence.With Israel and the Palestinians preparing for a possible Israeli push into the Gaza Strip following the tank gunner's abduction, there appeared little chance that the agreement over the document could open a path towards peacemaking soon. Israeli troops massed at the Gaza border while Palestinian fighters planted land mines and piled up mounds of sand as obstacles. Abbas, the Palestinian president, had sought to soften Hamas's line in the hope of ending the US-led financial siege aimed at forcing the group to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept peace accords.