A flare-up in fighting between Israel and militants from Gaza's ruling Hamas movement has subsided after intervention from the government in Egypt.
Israeli defence official Amos Gilad told Army Radio that Egyptian security forces have "a very impressive ability" to convey to the militants that it is in their own "supreme interest not to attack".
Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha said Egypt had conveyed Israel's desire to contain the violence.
He said Hamas had told Egyptian officials the militants would cease fire if Israel would do so too.
The Israeli military said militants had not launched any attacks on southern Israel since Wednesday night, and that the military had not struck back at Gaza since Wednesday morning.
Militants fired about 80 rockets and mortars at Israel on Wednesday and Israeli aircraft retaliated four times.
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