Israeli forces crossed into the Gaza Strip early today in a raid that captured a local Hamas militant leader and left his brother dead near a Gaza border town, Palestinian witnesses and officials said.

Senior Palestinian officials said militant groups in the Gaza Strip agreed to stop firing missiles at Israel at midnight tonight (9pm Irish time), if Israel launches no new raids into Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today said he had been on the verge of releasing Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture before an Israeli soldier was captured.

ISRAEL will invite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume stalled peace talks after Palestinian militants release a captured Israeli soldier, Vice Premier Shimon Peres said yesterday.