EREZ CHECKPOINT, Gaza Strip - Hundreds of armed Palestinian police deployed across the northern Gaza Strip today to prevent rocket fire on Israeli communities, raising hopes that the two sides have found a way to end more than four years of bloody conflict and resume peace talks.

The deployment, with officers wearing red berets patrolling in shiny new pickup trucks, came after Israel and the Palestinians renewed security coordination earlier this week. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas also is negotiating with armed groups to win their commitment to a cease-fire, and his associates said he is making progress.

Eventually, some 3,000 members of the Palestinian security forces are to take up positions in the northern third of Gaza - a first since fighting erupted in 2000 and Israeli troops began targeting all armed Palestinians, including those in uniform, on suspicion of involvement in the violence.

Abbas said in a statement that the first stage of deployment, the posting of troops from Gaza City to the north of the strip, was completed today. The second stage, deploying officers from Gaza City to the south, is to be completed within two days, the statement said.

However, the situation remains volatile.

The militant groups have not yet committed to a cease-fire. "I don't know how soon we shall have results," Abbas told reporters today. Israel's deputy defense minister, Zeev Boim, said today that Israel would respond with "great force" to renewed Palestinian rocket fire.

In Israel, a 17-year-old girl from the town of Sderot near Gaza died today of injuries she sustained in a Palestinian rocket attack last week. Militants have not fired rockets since Wednesday.

In today's troop deployment, officers fanned out across northern Gaza. Near the Erez crossing with Israel, 10 policemen in green uniforms took up a post. The officers, armed with assault rifles, checked vehicles heading to nearby Israeli positions.

From the northern town of Beit Lahiya, a frequent rocket launching area, about five dozen members of Palestinian military intelligence set out on patrol in new pickup trucks. "We've received orders to deploy all along the northern border areas to take complete control," said the group's commander, Ismail Dahdouh.

The prospect of Palestinian police taking action to rein in militants quelled calls in Israel for immediate military action to stop the rocket fire. Israel has warned it would launch a major offensive in Gaza if rocket fire resumes.

The militants have said they are ready to halt attacks on Israel, provided Israel stops military operations.

Boim, the deputy defense minister, indicated today that Israel would not make such a promise now, but that the issue could be discussed in future talks.