UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council welcomed the ceasefire after a week of devastating violence in southern Israel and Gaza, and stressed that it was imperative for both sides to stick to it.

“I commend the parties for stepping back from the brink,” Mr Ban said, as he briefed the Security Council via video-link from Tel Aviv. “Our 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 which was unable to take any action as US blocked the council from meeting formally, issued its own statement to the press unanimously welcoming the ceasefire agreement. It called upon both the parties to uphold the agreement and to “act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith”.