Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Turkey has hailed the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, which came after long and intense diplomatic efforts.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara warmly embraces the newly announced ceasefire brokered by Egypt and aimed at ending the eight days of fighting in the Gaza Strip along with the containment of any escalation of the violence, Todays Zaman newspaper reported on Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel's offensive in Gaza, which had been launched on November 14, claimed the lives of many innocent Palestinians and wounded dozens of others while pushing the entire region into a state of chaos.

According to Reuters, in the eight-day air and naval attack on Hamas-ruled Gaza five Israelis and 162 Gazans, including 37 children, were killed.

The Turkish ministry's statement noted that Turkey launched international diplomatic efforts in an attempt to reduce the escalation of tension. As part of the efforts, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, both of whom recently visited Egypt, worked in close cooperation with their Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to forge the truce.

Furthermore, Minister Davutoglu visited Gaza City along with the foreign ministers of the Arab League to show Turkey's solidarity with the Gazans, the statement said.

It said Turkey expects both sides to keep their commitment to their promise to end the violence and to act with caution and wisdom to avoid any action that could harm the fragile cease-fire.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the basics for a sustainable peace is that Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian lands and for an independent Palestinian state to be established, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unless this is achieved, the cycle of violence in the long run will never end, as the latest events have proved.

Turkey praised Egypt and President Mohammed Morsi for his leading role in brokering the truce.

"This success is a precursor that a democratic Egypt will make a significant contribution to regional peace and stability in the future and Turkey is ready to give any support that Egypt needs in this domain," the statement said.

Also, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said that he appreciated Turkey's efforts in achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian groups, Anadolu news agency reported.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Amr also welcomed the efforts of the Arab League, Qatar and the UN secretary general in restoring a cease fire in Gaza.

Ceasefire agreement

According to the ceasefire agreement, both sides should halt all hostilities, with Israel desisting from incursions and targeting of individuals, while all Palestinian factions should cease rocket fire and cross-border attacks, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The deal also provides for easing Israeli restrictions on Gaza's residents, who live in what British Prime Minister David Cameron has called an "open prison".

The text of the agreement said procedures for implementing this would be "dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire".

Israeli sources said Israel would not lift a blockade of the enclave it enforced after Hamas won a Palestinian election in 2006.

However, the head of Hamas Khaled Meshaal said the deal covered the opening of all of the territory's border crossings. "The document stipulates the opening of the crossings, all the crossings, and not just Rafah," he said. Israel controls all of Gaza's crossings apart from the Rafah post with Egypt.

Meshaal also said the Gaza ceasefire agreement was a tactical defeat for Israel, but stressed that his movement would observe the ceasefire, DPA reported.

"It was a mean, treacherous aggression on our people in Gaza that necessitated response and self-defence," Meshaal said, as he thanked Egypt for mediating the ceasefire.

Meshaal said Israel had failed in its "adventure" when it launched attacks on Gaza and accepted Palestinian terms.

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had paid a "heavy price" during the eight-day conflict in Gaza.

Speaking as the truce came into force, he said Israel had targeted its commanders and destroyed "thousands of rockets," as well as its "command centers," and all this was done with "strong" international support, especially of US President Barack Obama, who displayed "unreserved" backing of Israel's right to defend itself.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel had achieved all the military goals it had set for itself in the fighting and said he had ordered the army to observe the truce.

Int'l approval of truce

The United Nations, United States, EU and world powers welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, and thanked Egypt's new government for its successful first turn on the diplomatic stage, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

The US president thanked President Morsi for his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a ceasefire proposal, the White House said in a statement.

Obama reaffirmed the "close partnership" between Washington and Cairo, the White House said, adding that the two leaders "agreed on the importance of working toward a more durable solution to the situation in Gaza." The US leader also praised a more natural Washington ally, Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu, but again stressed Egypt's role in securing the deal that it is hoped will end Hamas' rocket attacks and Israeli air strikes.

"The president expressed his appreciation for the prime minister's efforts to work with the new Egyptian government to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and a more durable solution to this problem," the White House said.

European Union leaders, Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, also welcomed the ceasefire, while cautiously stressing that the parties must "ensure its implementation and to prevent the restart of violence." Pledging EU support for the peace process, their statement added that the events of the last days "stress the urgent need to move towards a two-state solution allowing both sides to live side-by-side in peace and security."

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also praised the role of Egypt in reaching the ceasefire.

"I commend in particular the efforts of Egypt and all those who engaged in mediating between the parties to secure this ceasefire," she said.

The UN Security Council issued a statement to "strongly commend" Morsi for his efforts, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed relief.

"I commend the parties for stepping back from the brink, and I commend President Morsi of Egypt for his exceptional leadership," Ban Ki-moon said.

Despite debating their response for several hours, Security Council members agreed on a statement that called "on the parties to uphold the agreement and to act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith."

Also, the UN secretary general and Jordan's King Abdullah II late Wednesday urged regional powers to support the Gaza-Israeli truce and expressed hope that the breakthrough would provide fresh momentum for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, DPA reported.

Ban Ki-moon said that it was time for establishment of a Palestinian state.

Besides, in a press conference in Ramallah, after the meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he said a two-state solution was necessary to end the violence on Palestinian lands.

Also, the UN chief said he and Abbas during their meeting discussed sending urgent aid to Gaza, calling on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza.