U.S. welcomes Israeli unilateral cease-fire in Gaza, urges lasting truce

The Bush administration on Saturday welcomed Israel's decision to declare a unilateral ceasefire in its military operations against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and urged both sides to end attacks immediately.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Egyptian efforts to bring Hamas on board and secure international backing for a ceasefire at a summit that Egypt will hold on Sunday. She expressed concern for the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, calling for immediate efforts to assist them.

"The United States commends Egypt for its efforts and remains deeply concerned by the suffering of innocent Palestinians," Rice said. "We welcome calls for immediate coordinated international action to increase assistance flows and will contribute to such efforts."

The U.S. and Israel signed an agreement on Friday aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.

The deal includes measures to fight arms smuggling from Iran to Gaza, with the policing to take place throughout the route by which the arms reach Gaza, including patrols of the Persian Gulf, Sudan, and neighboring states.

Blair: Gaza cease-fire fragile, will only endure if peace process revitalized

Special Middle East envoy Tony Blair said the unilateral cease-fire Israel has announced in the Gaza Strip is fragile and is only going to endure if the peace process is revitalized.

Blair told journalists there will be a renewed attempt to reconcile rival Palestinian factions but said it should be on the right terms and consistent with an Arab peace initiative and the two-state solution.

Blair said he is in Saudi Arabia to talk to leaders about what to do next for Gaza reconstruction and immediate humanitarian needs, as well as reinvigorating the peace process.

He met with Saudi King Abdullah on Saturday.

Turkey says Gaza cease-fire is 'first step'

Turkey's president welcomed Israel's unilateral cease-fire Sunday as a first step toward ending the bloodshed in Gaza, but said Israeli troops must pull out for the cease-fire to be durable.

President Abdullah Gul spoke to reporters before traveling to the Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheik for an international meeting on the Gaza Strip.

"The unilateral cease-fire that was declared by Israel is a positive first step, he said. Now we must ensure that the cease-fire is mutual and durable and that Israel completely withdraws from Gaza."

The Turkish premier, however, was more skeptical about the cease-fire, and criticized Israel for not providing a deadline for withdrawing its forces.

"The declaration of the unilateral cease-fire does not mean that everything has ended," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "Israel's position on the issue is not clear...We have concerns. (Israel) needs to give assurances."

He also called on the United States and other Western states to exert pressure on Israel by displaying their determined stance.

Erdogan said Israel should not assume that Hamas fired the rockets that hit Israel after the cease-fire declaration.

European Union, Australia, Singapore welcome unilateral cease-fire

The European Union said it welcomes Israel's unilateral cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and called on Hamas to refrain from attacks.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the cease-fire should allow for a resumption of humanitarian aid to the region.

She said that Sunday's cease-fire ending 22 days of war against Hamas militants should be followed by the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith welcomed the ceasefire announcement but said Hamas would need to stop firing rockets into Israel if the hostilities were to give way to peace talks.

"We welcome very much the announcement this morning of a unilateral ceasefire by Israel," Smith said. "We urge Hamas to reciprocate and we continue to urge the practical implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860 to bring about a durable and fully respected ceasefire."

Smith said the ceasefire must "include Hamas ceasing its firing of rockets into Israel" and a "cessation of the arms and the smuggling into the Gaza for use by Hamas."

Smith reiterated Australia's position that peace in the Middle East would rest with a "two-nation state solution."

Singapore also welcomed the declaration, calling on all parties concerned to make every effort to respect the ceasefire and the full cessation of hostilities.

"(But) we remain deeply concerned over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urge all sides to take urgent steps to address the situation," Singapore's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We hope the ceasefire will serve as a first step in the full implementation of the terms of UNSC Resolution 1860 (2009) and that events that had lead to the current situation will not be repeated," said the statement.