Lull in fighting between Israel, Gaza militants

Weeks of simmering violence had intensified on Tuesday night, when rocket fire from Gaza drew Israeli airstrikes that killed two Palestinian militants. The hostilities came to a boil Wednesday, when militants fired some 80 rockets and mortars at southern Israel, and Israeli aircraft struck Gaza four times. In all, four Palestinians, including three militants, were killed in the fighting and two foreign workers in Israel were critically wounded.

The rocket and mortar fire stopped altogether overnight, though one projectile landed in southern Israel on Thursday morning, causing no damage. The military said it last struck Gaza on Wednesday morning. The violence ebbed as Muslims began preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins on Friday.

Both sides confirmed Egyptian involvement in ending the fighting.

Under longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, Egypt had played an important role in halting multiple outbreaks of hostilities between Israel and Gaza militants. The new government of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi who belongs to Hamas' parent movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, kept up the tradition.

Israeli defense official Amos Gilad told Army Radio on Thursday that Egyptian security forces have "a very impressive ability" to convey to the militants that it is in their "supreme interest not to attack."

Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha said Egypt conveyed Israel's desire to contain the violence.

"We said we'll abide by the calm if the occupation abides," he said. "It happened over the phone with Egyptian intelligence."

Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks, has largely avoided attacks since a devastating Israeli military offensive nearly four years ago. It remains virulently anti-Israel but has sought to keep things quiet as it consolidates control of Gaza, which it violently overran five years ago.

Still, it is under pressure from smaller groups to prove that it remains in confrontation with the Jewish state.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested the visit Tuesday of Qatari's leader to Gaza — the first by a head of state to the territory since it came under Hamas rule — emboldened Hamas to clash this week with Israel by bolstering the group's legitimacy.