GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian militants in Gaza have agreed to stop firing rockets into southern Israel.
Hamas announced the agreement this evening, saying it's intended to prevent Israeli retaliation and give Gaza residents more stability. Hamas' interior minister says it should make it easier for residents to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in last winter's war with Israel.
Hamas has mostly refrained from firing rockets since Israel's three-week offensive ended in January. Israel launched the operation to end the rocket attacks which, at that time, were almost daily.
U.N. and Palestinian estimates put the Palestinian death toll in the conflict around 1,400. Thirteen Israelis also were killed.
Some Gaza militant groups have continued with rocket attacks since the end of the war, but they've been far less frequent. The latest came this morning, but it caused no injuries. A small faction affiliated with al-Qaida claimed responsibility.
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