Palestinians to guard Gaza border

The security forces have been unable to prevent violence

The top Palestinian security commander has promised swift action to stop militant attacks against Israel.

Security forces will be deployed along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel "to prevent violations", Gen Abdul Razeq Majaydeh said.

The move follows a suicide attack in south Gaza by the Hamas militant group that killed an Israeli security agent.

On Wednesday, a Palestinian missile was fired at an Israeli armoured vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Reports said that one Israeli soldier was wounded in the attack near the Erez checkpoint and that Israeli forces returned fire.

Preparations will continue for national security forces to be redeployed along the border in the next two days to prevent the violations Gen Abdul Razeq Majaydeh

In a separate incident, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians who they said had hurled a grenade towards them near the Nahal Oz checkpoint, which lies next to the Karni border crossing.

Mr Abbas met Hamas leaders late into the night on Tuesday to try to persuade them to agree to a ceasefire.

"We have agreed to redeploy the joint Palestinian security forces inside the cities to ensure security," Gen Majaydeh told reporters after a meeting with Mr Abbas in Gaza City.

"We also agreed that preparations will continue for national security forces to be redeployed along the border in the next two days to prevent the violations," he added.

Land near the border with Israel is often used by militant groups to fire crude short-range missiles at Israeli targets on the other side.

Ceasefire talks

Hamas leaders called their meeting with Mr Abbas positive and more talks are due to take place on Wednesday.

Mr Abbas, popularly known as Abu Mazen, has said that it is time for the Palestinians to try to negotiate an end to the Israeli occupation of their land.

In statements, Palestinian militant groups have signalled they are prepared to consider a ceasefire, but only on condition that it is not unilateral and that Israel ends its raids in the area.

In a meeting with a top US representative in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Mr Abbas said he needed more time to negotiate a ceasefire, a Palestinian official told the Associated Press news agency.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited army chiefs at the Erez checkpoint in Gaza.

He called on Mr Abbas, who was elected Palestinian Authority president earlier this month, to take action against the militants.

"Abu Mazen doesn't need a settling-in period," Mr Sharon said. "It's not as if he doesn't know what is happening in the field."