The Hamas-led government agreed on Wednesday to withdraw a controversial private militia from public areas of Gaza in an agreement with the rival Fatah movement aimed at halting weeks of bloody infighting.

Hamas and Fatah also agreed on Wednesday to halt the clashes which have broken out across Gaza in recent weeks.

The agreement on the Hamas militia came after hours of talks in Gaza City mediated by Egyptian diplomats and joined by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

“They are going to be in places away from the public. They are not going to be visible to people,” said government spokesman Ghazi Hamad. Under the arrangement, the militia is to be folded into the official Palestinian police force, he said.

The agreement to end clashes came after a wave of violence in Gaza Wednesday between militants in the ruling Hamas party and Fatah militants loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Khalil Al-Hayya, a Hamas leader, told supporters, “We order men from Fatah and Hamas to respect the holiness of Palestinian blood.”

Clashes between Fatah forces and the Hamas militia have left 16 people dead in recent weeks.

Hamas also agreed to withdraw the 3,000-member force from public view last week. But within days, the gunmen returned to their positions on the streets. After Wednesday’s deal was announced, the Hamas force remained in public view.

Abbas’ power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group beat his party in legislative elections in January has revolved around control of the security forces.

Abbas has said the Hamas force is illegal but said it could be folded into existing security agencies.

A meeting was also held Wednesday between the Preventive Security chief and Haniyeh.

On Tuesday, gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades at a pro-Fatah Palestinian Authority security compound in the Gaza Strip, moderately wounding three maintenance workers, security and hospital officials said.

The Preventive Security service is loyal to Abbas and has been at the center of a power struggle between Abbas and Hamas.

Officials in Fatah movement blamed Hamas for the attack. Security personnel fired at the attackers, but the assailants escaped, officials said.

Hamas has accused the Preventive Security agency of being behind the wave of unrest.

“This is a serious escalation. Hamas is keen on exporting the battle over the referendum to the streets,” said Fatah spokesman Maher Mekdad.

Hamas officials were not immediately available for comment.

Abbas will announce on Saturday a referendum on a plan that implicitly recognizes Israel, an Abbas aide said on Wednesday.

Abbas met Wednesday with White House envoy David Welch ahead of the expected decree for a poll on the prisoners’ document drafted by Palestinians jailed in Israel calling for a two-state solution.