Hundreds of Palestinian security forces deployed near the border with Israel in northern Gaza Strip Sunday to reinforce a mutual ceasefire, security sources said.

The forces deployed in areas used by militants as launching site for homemade rockets against southern Israel after the truce was violated by Palestinian militant groups.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on a ceasefire, under which Israel halts offensives in northern Gaza Strip and Palestinians stop firing rockets as of Sunday morning.

According to the deal, the Israeli army withdraws from northern Gaza Strip after weeks of operations that have left more than 100Palestinians dead.

But the deal was breached twice by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad(Holy War). Hours later, the two movements said that they were committed to the agreement as long as Israel observed it.

Voicing hope that the Israeli side will abide by the deal, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya called on factions to maintain the truce.

Editor: Donald