Militant groups have agreed to suspend attacks as they near a truce deal with Palestinian leader Mr Mahmoud Abbas and await Israel's response, a senior Palestinian official said today.
The militants' promise came after Israeli leaders said they are ready to hold fire if calm prevails, moving the two sides closer to ending four years of bloody conflict.
US envoy William Burns, a senior State Department official, is to arrive in the region later this week for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the emerging ceasefire deal.
Mr Abbas is seeking Israeli guarantees that it will halt military operations, including arrest raids and targeted killings of militants. Israel in the past has refused to grant amnesty to militants but appeared to be softening its position.
Mr Asaf Shariv, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said Israel would not make public declarations. "It will be a de facto ceasefire," he said. "If there is quiet, we will respond with quiet."
Mr Abbas was today wrapping up a week of talks with militant leaders in Gaza. Palestinian negotiator Mr Ziad Abu Amr said the armed groups have promised to suspend attacks on Israel.
"They will continue doing that for some time to see if Israel is ready to accept demands and hold the truce," Abu Amr said after Mr Abbas said he was close to sealing a ceasefire deal with the militant groups.
Palestinian officials said Mr Abbas would not formally declare a truce until he has won Israeli guarantees. Mr Abbas has also reached an understanding with the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad on the terms of their political participation.
AP