CAIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Friday welcomed the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the AL's statement.
Hailing the initiative of Egypt that led to negotiations to stop the bloodshed, end the military operations and reach a truce, he stressed that Egypt's efforts and solidarity with Gaza have contributed greatly to alleviate the losses and end the Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave.
"The announced cease-fire doesn't mean not sending the perpetrators to justice for the crimes killing a large number of children and destroying the construction of the Gaza Strip," Aboul-Gheit added.
The AL chief said that the cease-fire constitutes the first step to ease the escalation, stressing the importance of launching negotiations based on international laws.
An Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agreement came into effect on Friday at 2:00 a.m. Palestinian time (2300 GMT Thursday) between Israel and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Over the past 11 days of tension, 12 Israelis were killed and more than 100 injured by the rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at towns and cities in central and southern Israel.
On Thursday, the health ministry in Gaza said that 232 Palestinians have been killed, including 65 children, and 1,900 others injured. Enditem
