U.S. President George W. Bush says that any ceasefire to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip must ensure that Hamas militants cannot continue firing rockets at Israel.

Bush made the remarks on Monday in his first public reaction to Israel's ground invasion of Gaza. He said that he understands Israel's desire to protect itself, blaming that the situation now taking place in Gaza was caused by Hamas.

"All of us, of course, would like to see, you know, violence stop, but not at the expense of an agreement that does not prevent the crisis from happening again. I know people are saying, 'Let's have a cease-fire', and those are noble ambitions. But any cease-fire must have the conditions in it so that Hamas does not use Gaza as a place from which to launch rockets."

Meanwhile,Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki says Palestine will have a draft resolution presented to the UN Security Council "as soon as possible", calling for an immediate end to Israeli attacks in Gaza.

The move was taken upon the decision made at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo three days ago.

"We hope that during the same session the Council will adopt and pass a resolution that will permit that, first of all, ending the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, lifting the siege, opening the crossings between Gaza and Israel and also between Gaza and Egypt and of course having international observers to be dispersed along the different crossings and an international force to really provide protection for the Palestinian people."