Militants dispute claim of cease-fire in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The main Palestinian militant groups disputed a claim by senior officials of an agreement to halt rocket fire if Israeli calls off its Gaza offensive, but a midnight deadline passed without renewed violence after a day of relative calm.

The Palestinian officials said on Saturday militant groups agreed that the rocket attacks would end if Israel stopped launching raids into Gaza. After an offensive that has lasted more than three weeks, the Israeli military said it was aware of the internal Palestinian cease-fire contacts and would wait to see what happens.

But the three militant groups – Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Islamic Jihad and the Hamas military wing – denied that such a cease-fire had been agreed upon.

The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip began June 28, three days after militants raided an Israeli army post, killing two soldiers and capturing another.