GAZA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official affirmed on Thursday that the armed Palestinian factions has agreed on a limited ceasefire with Israel.

    Khader Habib, Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, told reporters that representatives of national and Islamic factions, who met with Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in Gaza on Thursday night, has agreed on a limited ceasefire with Israel.

    He stressed that the ceasefire is mutual and synchronous, noting that "Israel stops its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, while Palestinian militants stop firing rockets at Israel."

    "The agreement also needs the acceptance of both Fatah and Hamas movements," he added.

    On Monday, the Israeli army launched a ground military operation into northern Gaza Strip, where 12 Palestinians have been killed and more than 20 others wounded in the latest Israeli operation.

    As Palestinian militants continued to launch rockets against southern Israeli cities, Israel decided on Wednesday to continue its military operations in Gaza.