Palestinian worshippers at mosques in Gaza yesterday handed over cash and jewelry to armed and masked members of the terrorist group Hamas, which is raising money as the U.S. tries to cut off its supply of funds.

Reuters said the first-of-its-kind campaign is a sign Hamas' militant wing, Izz el-Deen al-Qassam, is feeling the effects of pressure to freeze its bank accounts and shut down the Muslim charities that fuel its terrorist activities.

Suicide bombings by Hamas members have killed hundreds of Israelis.

The fund-raising, by the group's political wing, amounted to about $120,000 in the first hours of the campaign, Reuters said.

"Now you can help buy ammunition for the fighters," a Hamas statement distributed at the mosques said.

Hamas, with a stated goal of destroying Israel, has vowed to avenge the Jewish state's assassination March 22 of its spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmad Yassin

Along with giving wads of cash, some worshipers at Gaza Strip mosques yesterday took off necklaces, rings and earrings and placed them in the charity boxes, Reuters reported.

"Donating our money cannot be compared to the sacrifices by the men [in Hamas' armed wing]," said one woman, according to Reuters. "They die so that we live."

Senior Hamas leader Saeed Seyam said the success so far of the fund-raising campaign shows the enormous support Hamas enjoys among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"It was also a message to the Zionist enemy and to the Americans that they would never succeed in besieging resistance and block its resources," he said, according to Reuters.