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As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for an immediate end to offensive operations, international reactions started to respond to the Israeli "unilateral ceasefire".
The Bush administration on Saturday welcomed Israel's decision to declare a unilateral ceasefire in its military offensive and urged both sides to end attacks immediately.
In a statement issued shortly after Olmert announced the move, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the ultimate goal remains a lasting truce that is respected by all sides. But the Islamic resistance movement Hamas has not agreed to the decision.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that Israel's unilateral cease-fire will last as he heads to a summit on the three-week-old crisis. Ban was speaking in Damascus where he discussed with President Bashar Assad Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip to end rocket attacks.
The Czech presidency of the European Union called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by Hamas and called on Israel to follow up its ceasefire by opening up access to Gaza. "The Presidency welcomes the announcement by Israel to unilaterally cease all their military activities in Gaza and urges Hamas to immediately and unconditionally join this ceasefire," said the statement.
It added: "The priority now is to ensure that no more civilians die as a result of this conflict."It is vital, therefore, that all required humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical aid is freely and rapidly delivered into, and distributed within Gaza," it continued. "The Presidency calls on Israel to fully and immediately reopen its border crossings with Gaza to help alleviate the suffering of Gaza's population."
Former Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, whose term ended on January 9, said on Sunday the Israeli unilateral ceasefire is insufficient, calling for a complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation troops from the territory.
"There must be a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a reopening of crossing points to allow the arrival of aid to the Palestinian people of Gaza," Abbas said after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who has been spearheading truce efforts.
Japan welcomed Israel's ceasefire in Gaza, urging Israel and Hamas to reach a permanent truce and calling for attention to turn to the humanitarian situation in the shattered territory.
"The government of Japan welcomes Israel's declaration of a ceasefire as a positive step for preventing a further increase in civilian casualties and realizing a permanent ceasefire," Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said in a statement.
He said the Japanese government "highly appreciates Egypt's mediation efforts," while calling for appropriate measures to be taken "to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip."
Turkish leaders said on Sunday Israel should pull out its occupation forces from the Gaza Strip following its announcement of a unilateral ceasefire that constitutes "a positive initial step." President Abdullah Gul, speaking before his departure to Egypt for an international summit on Gaza, said Israel's decision to halt the 22-day offensive early Sunday "constitutes a positive initial step."
The objective now was "to ensure that the ceasefire becomes mutual and durable and that Israel withdraws entirely from Gaza," Gul told reporters.
Tackling the humanitarian crisis in the devastated Palestinian enclave and the reconstruction of its infrastructure was another priority, he said.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel's decision to halt the offensive was "important", but he cast doubt on its efficiency. Israel had already responded to several rockets fired from the Hamas-run enclave after the announcement, he said. "Israeli tanks are currently in Gaza and... it is not clear how long they will stay," he told reporters. "There are concerns regarding this and Israel should give certain assurances."
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