I

ndonesia on Sunday welcomed the Israeli unilateral cease-fire but expressed regret the decision was made after more than 1,000 Palestinians, including women and children, had died in the bloody conflict.

"We regret it took so long to happen," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said, adding that it would be better if there were an international monitoring mission in the war zone to guarantee the sustainability of the cease-fire.

He said that Indonesia demanded the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the battered Gaza Strip and lifting of the blockade to ensure humanitarian aid could reach the helpless Palestinians.

Israel announced the end of its offensive on Saturday, but said its troops would remain in Gaza with orders to return fire if attacked. Hamas also announced a weeklong cease-fire.

Noted Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra from Jakarta's State Islamic University said Israel's unilateral cease-fire was fragile and not to be seen as a significant development, although he admitted it would help ease the humanitarian crisis there.

"We're still a long way from seeing sustainable peace in Gaza, especially given that Israeli soldiers are still there," he said.

Israel is probably waiting for the inauguration of the incoming US president Barack Obama to watch the new president's response, Azra said.other reasons they stopped their attacks are because Hamas has not been entirely destroyed and now Israel is facing condemnation from the international community," he said.

After failing to gain support at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to issue a strong resolution condemning Israel, Indonesia should start focusing its diplomatic efforts on the US under its new president, Azra said.