The Spanish government issued a congratulatory note on Sunday after Israel and the Palestinians agreed on a ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reached the agreement on Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The truce took effect on Sunday at 6.00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT).

Spain's Foreign Ministry reiterated the nation's belief that the Middle East problem could not be solved by violence. The decision gave rise to the "hope that a process of dialogue can create a peace dynamic in the region," the ministry said.

Under the deal, the Israeli army has withdrawn from the northern Gaza Strip after weeks of operations that had left more than 100 Palestinians dead. Hundreds of Palestinian security forces have been deployed near the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip to reinforce the ceasefire.

But the deal was breached twice by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War). Hours later, the two movements said that they were committed to the agreement as long as Israel observed it.

Voicing hope that the Israeli side will abide by the deal, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya called on factions to maintain the truce.

Olmert said that Israel would display "patience and restraint" and that he hoped the ceasefire would take effect in the West Bank as well. He also wished the newly reached agreement would consequently facilitate a new round of peace talks.

Source: Xinhua