Pakistan has welcomed the commencement of a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday as a month-long crisis has left at least 232 Palestinians dead in Israeli airstrikes.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi took to Twitter to express his sentiments and welcomed the move.

"Pakistan welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire," he said and added, "This is the power of collective, unified action; this is the effort of every person and every nation, together for a just cause. May this ceasefire be the 1st step towards peace in Palestine."

Shah Mehmood noted that "Israel's occupation of Palestine must end and reiterated the need for the implementation of United Nation resolutions for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State:

"Israel’s occupation of Palestine must end and illegal settlements and apartheid-like regime imposed in the occupied territories must be dismantled. Implementation of UN res for the establishment of independent and contiguous Palestinian State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, imperative."