GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militant group linked to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah faction, announced yesterday that it is ready to stop violence. Israeli officials indicated that they are considering the idea.

The armed Palestinian groups want Israel to stop arrest raids and targeted killings of wanted Palestinians in exchange for a truce. In the past, Israel refused to promise the militants amnesty, despite requests by Egyptian mediators who have said they need such guarantees for the truce.

However, two advisers to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday that a halt in Palestinian attacks could prompt the Israeli military to hold back.

"If there will be quiet on the Palestinian side, then there will be quiet on our side, because all of our military operations are only meant to stop terrorism," said Zalman Shoval, a Sharon adviser.

Brig. Gen. Giora Eiland, head of Israel's National Security Council, told Israel Radio that quiet would be met by quiet.

The latest statements indicate Abbas, who replaced the late Yasser Arafat, is making progress in his attempt to persuade armed groups to halt attacks on Israel, a first step toward ending more than four years of bloodshed.

In the past five days, Abbas has met repeatedly with representatives of the three key militant groups: Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Abbas also held talks with smaller factions that are expected to fall in line if the larger three agree to a truce.

In a news conference yesterday, a masked Al Aqsa spokesman, flanked by four gunmen, said the group would accept a cease-fire "if it is mutual and if Israel also commits to it." The spokesman was identified only by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed.

Abu Mohammed said Israel must also agree to release Palestinian prisoners from its jails. "We think that all the factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, believe that this cease-fire must be mutual," he said.

More than 7,000 Palestinians are in prison for anti-Israeli activity. Israel has released small groups of prisoners in the past, but has balked at freeing those involved in deadly attacks.

On Friday, some 3,000 Palestinian police deployed in the northern Gaza Strip to prevent rocket and mortar fire on Israeli communities. No rockets have been fired since Wednesday. Yesterday, there were only four shooting incidents in Gaza, the quietest day there since the outbreak of fighting in September 2000, an Israeli security official said on condition of anonymity.

Eiland, the National Security Council chief, said he was encouraged by the deployment of the Palestinian forces. Compared to lackluster performance in the past, "now it seems they [Palestinian security forces] are taking positive action," he said, adding that in the long run, Abbas will have to dismantle the armed groups and raid weapons workshops.

Abbas has said he wants to avoid force, and is trying to reach agreement with the militants.