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Middle East
Reactions to Israel truce call
World leaders' reactions to Israel's ceasefire declaration in the Gaza Strip.
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2009 06:32 GMT
The truce halts the 22-day offensive which has left more than 1,200 Palestinians dead [AFP]

The following are reactions of some international key players to Israel's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip:

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president

"Egypt is working towards the end to the aggression and securing its borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip and it will never accept any foreign presence of monitors on its land. I say this is a red line - I have not and will not allow it to be crossed."

"I demand Israel today stop its military operations immediately. I demand from its leaders an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and I demand from them a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Strip.

"Despite the adoption of security council resolution 1860, two days after the Egyptian initiative, the Israeli military operations are still continuing in the occupied Gaza Strip. Egypt has continued to move in a race against time to stop the fighting as it hosted several intense and difficult negotiations with Israeli and Palestinian sides."

Saeb Erakat, senior negotiator for the Palestinian Authority

"If the troops remain in Gaza, then I don't think the ceasefire will last.

"Because of that president Abbas asks the international  community to pressure Israel to implement the withdrawal from Gaza very soon.

"We need the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza because there is a  humanitarian crisis in Gaza that needs to be resolved."

Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general

 
 
"I am relieved that the Israeli Government has decided to cease hostilities as of midnight GMT.

"This should be the first step leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

"Any durable solution must include the re-opening of the [Gaza border] crossings and the prevention of illicit trafficking in arms."


Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state

"The United States welcomes the cessation of hostilities in Gaza announced by Israel and expects that all parties will cease attacks and hostile actions immediately.

"The goal remains a durable and fully respected ceasefire that will lead to stabilisation and normalisation in Gaza.

"The United States commends Egypt for its efforts and remains deeply concerned by the suffering of innocent Palestinians.

"We welcome calls for immediate co-ordinated international action to increase assistance flows and will contribute to such efforts."

David Miliband, British foreign secretary

"There will be huge relief at the announcement by Prime Minister
[Ehud] Olmert of the end of Israeli military operations in Gaza.

"As the Prime Minister [Gordon Brown] said today, too many lives
have already been lost.

"The deaths of over 1,000 people stand testament to the scale  and duration of the conflict."

Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies
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