The United States on Saturday welcomed Israel's decision to implement a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

"The United States welcomes the cessation of hostilities in Gaza announced by Israel and expects that all parties will cease attacks and hostile actions immediately," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.

"The goal remains a durable and fully respected ceasefire that will lead to stabilization and normalization in Gaza," she added.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert late Saturday announced the unilateral ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, beginning from 2:00 AM (0000 GMT) on Sunday, after the security cabinet voted in favor of the ceasefire in Gaza where the Cast Lead Operation had been going on for more than three weeks.

More than 1,200 Palestinians were reportedly killed and 5,300 others wounded in Israel's military strikes since December 27, which also cost 13 lives on the Israeli side, including four killed by rockets from Gaza. The other nine were soldiers killed in Gaza ground battle.