Brussels  - The European Commission on Sunday welcomed the unilateral ceasefire announced by Israel and called on Hamas to refrain from violence so that human suffering in Gaza could end.

The ceasefire was indispensable, said External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The stop in violence was also necessary to allow the EU and other donors to help the people in Gaza.

"Our priority is a permanent peace," she said, adding that she hoped that the crossings into Gaza would be opened again soon and that all Israeli soldiers would be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.

Tel Aviv/Gaza  - A unilateral ceasefire declared by Israel in the Gaza Strip was "fragile" and Israel would respond "without hesitation" if its troops in the salient were attacked, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday morning.

The premier made the comments at the weekly cabinet meeting, following attacks on Israeli forces, and rockets from the Strip at southern Israel, hours after the ceasefire went into effect at 00:00 GMT Sunday (2 am local time.)

"We have operational freedom to respond if terror organizations continue attacks," media reports quoted Olmert as saying.

Tehran  - Tehran on Sunday said that the unilateral ceasefire announced by Israel reflected the failure of the Israeli operations in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that the reason for the unilateral ceasefire by the Israeli military leaders reflected their failure in achieving their goals from the
22-day military operation in Gaza.

In a statement by the foreign ministry, Mottaki added that the ceasefire also reflected the victory of the heroic people of Gaza and the resistance groups against the fully armed Israeli army.

The foreign minister however noted that the stop of air, sea and land attacks were not enough but the Israeli troops should withdraw from Gaza for ending tensions and guaranteeing real ceasefire.

Tel Aviv/Gaza  - Israel's unilaterally-declared cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip entered into effect at 2 am (0000GMT) Sunday, in accordance with the announcement of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert several hours earlier.

No troops will withdraw from the enclave but Olmert said Israel will not initiative any offensives in Gaza and troops would only fire if fired upon by Palestinian militants, as decided upon in a security cabinet.

The Islamic Hamas movement, against whom the three-week-long Israeli operation was directed, said they would not respect any ceasefire so long as Israeli troops remained in the Gaza Strip and the borders to the territory were opened.

Tel Aviv  - Saying Israel has achieved the aims of its Gaza offensive, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Saturday night that Israel will stop fighting in the salient at
0000 GMT Sunday (2 am local time), although troops would not be pulling out of the enclave.

But the Islamic Hamas movement, against whom the three-week-long Israeli operation was directed, said they would not respect any ceasefire so long as Israeli troops remained in the Gaza Strip.

"The cabinet has decided to accept my proposal and to declare a ceasefire," Olmert told a news conference, held immediately after the inner, or security, cabinet met in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv  - Israel will stop its fighting in the Gaza Strip at 00:00 GMT Sunday (2 am local time), Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Saturday night.

He said however that Israeli troops will remain in the Gaza Strip for the time being and would only leave once Israel was satisfied Hamas fire had ceased completely.