UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon followed by the Security Council welcomed the ceasefire announced Wednesday after a week of devastating violence in Gaza, stressing that it is imperative that both sides stick to it.

People welcomes Gaza ceasefire

The UN chief briefed the Security Council via video-link from Tel Aviv that the focus now must be on ensuring the ceasefire holds and that all those in need in Gaza and there are many receive the humanitarian assistance that they need. The Security Council in turn issued its own statement to the press unanimously welcoming the agreement. It called on the parties to both uphold the agreement and to act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith. US President Obama spoke by phone Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, praising the new agreement on a cease fire in Gaza and thanked President Morsi for his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he supported the truce and called for an end to Israeli hostility in Gaza.