US President George W. Bush said on Monday that he wanted a "sustainable ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, but said it was up to Hamas to choose to end its rocket fire on Israel. "I am for a sustainable ceasefire. And a definition of a sustainable cease-fire is that Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel," the US leader told what is likely to be his final press conference.
"I happen to believe the choice is Hamas' to make."
In Tel Aviv, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said Israel was achieving its objectives in the conflict. "We hope that the violence will end swiftly but in order for that to come about, two things must happen: rocket fire must stop and the terror organisations must stop rearming," he said.
"These things are not impossible and we are closer to them today than a few days ago. "I hope that the efforts of recent days by the Egyptians will allow us to end the war," added Olmert.
Meanwhile, at least 19 Palestinians were reported killed in Monday's clashes in Gaza Strip, medics said, pushing the overall toll past the 900 mark in the conflict which has also wounded nearly 4,000 people.
