Monday, October 31 2005 12:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gaza Strip: Israel and the Palestinians today (Oct 31, 2005) agreed to halt their latest round of violence after Islamic Jihad militants pledged to end a wave of rocket attacks against southern Israel, Palestinian officials said.

The development followed intense US and Israeli pressure on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to rein in the militants. Israeli officials replied that if the militants stop their attacks, Israel would have no reason to hit back.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a top adviser to Abbas, said Israel and the Palestinians agreed to stop the latest hostilities after US intervention.

"Both sides have agreed to stop the escalation," he said.

US embassy spokesman Stewart Tuttle said American officials were not involved in brokering the agreement but noted that US has urged both sides to stop the violence.

An Israeli government official said, "Here appears to be an understanding" for both sides to halt the fighting, though no official agreement is in place. He declined to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the matter. He said Israel would stop its operations when the Palestinians stop their attacks.

Militant groups planned a secret meeting later today to affirm the latest cease-fire, but a shootout in the West Bank threatened to torpedo the efforts once again.

Israeli forces encircled a house in the West Bank town of Qabatiyeh after sundown Sunday and killed two militants, including an Islamic Jihad man accused of planning a deadly suicide bombing last week, witnesses and Palestinian security officials said.