Jerusalem ? Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas agreed Sunday to hold their first summit since Israel’s pullout from Gaza as part of their efforts to restart the stalled Middle East peace process, officials from both sides said.

The announcement came as a new flare-up in fighting – blamed for the cancellation of a previously scheduled summit – eased in recent days.

Israeli officials said Sunday they were suspending the wide-ranging offensive against Palestinian militants following a lull in rocket attacks against Israeli towns, but said they would restart the operation if the rocket fire resumed. The officials said the operation succeeded in weakening militants’ ability to attack Israel from Gaza.

As the offensive wound down, Hamas militants waged gunbattles with Palestinian police across Gaza City on Sunday night that killed three people – two bystanders and a police officer – and wounded at least 50 others, including 10 police officers, according to the Palestinian Interior Ministry.

Egyptian mediators worked to negotiate an end to the gunfights, Palestinian officials said, and Gaza residents called in to a local radio station pleading with Hamas to stop the fighting. The gunfights came just three days after Hamas agreed to respect a ban on carrying weapons in public as part of an effort to bring order to Gaza’s chaotic streets.

Abbas called Sharon on Sunday to offer holiday wishes ahead of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, which begins Monday night.

During the conversation the leaders decided to meet soon, though no date was announced, Sharon’s office said.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said preparations for the summit would begin soon.

Sharon and Abbas were originally scheduled to meet Sunday, but that meeting was canceled after Israel launched its offensive two weeks ago.