President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said Wednesday he "warmly welcomes" the ceasefire agreement on Gaza reached between Palestinian factions and Israel after a seven-week offensive by Tel Aviv on the coastal enclave.

"I warmly welcome the agreement on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and call on all parties to comply fully with the terms agreed. The easing of the blockade is an encouraging step," Schulz was quoted as saying in a statement published on the European Parliament's website.

He called the European Union (EU) and the international community to increase efforts to tackle the "urgent humanitarian needs" and "security concerns" of Palestinians and Israelis. Underlining the need for the reconstruction of Gaza, Schulz "saluted the work of UNRWA" and all humanitarian organisations for their "unparalleled endeavours in extremely precarious conditions."

The top-level European official described the EU as a key partner for both sides and argued the necessity of a more active role by the pan-European organisation in achieving a just and lasting Middle East peace.

Since the beginning of Israel's offensive on Gaza, 8 July, some 2,143 Palestinians were killed and more than 12,000 others injured.

On the Israeli side, 70 — including 64 soldiers — were killed.

Israel and the Palestinian factions reached an Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire agreement Tuesday, coming into effect at 7:00pm Cairo time (1600 GMT). Egypt's foreign ministry announced that indirect talks would resume within one month of Tuesday's open-ended truce following the failure of earlier rounds of negotiations.

Head of the Palestinian negotiating delegation, Azzam Al-Ahmed, told AFP that Egypt's initiative — on which the truce deal was built — includes opening crossings into Gaza for goods and humanitarian and food aid, along with medical supplies and material to repair water, electricity and mobile phone networks. Restrictions on fishing would end immediately with boats allowed to fish and sail up to six nautical miles from shore, Al-Ahmed said.

Institutional support for the deal also came from Arab League Secretary-General Nabil El-Arabi, who praised Wednesday the efforts of Cairo to reach the Tuesday agreement between the parties. El-Arabi called on the Palestinian groups and Israel to "exert their maximum efforts in abiding by the terms and conditions of the deal."

"The Arab League continues to examine — with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — Arab and international moves to end Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and prevent further violations of the Palestinians' legitimate rights," El-Arabi said.

He added that these issues would be discussed during an Arab League meeting, which Abbas will attend, on 7 September.