Meanwhile, the diplomatic group in search of peace in the Middle East, or Quartet, have held a meeting on the situation in Gaza and southern Israel, and called for an immediate cease-fire that would be fully respected.

The group, which include the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States, called on all parties to address the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza and to take necessary measures to ensure the continuous provision of humanitarian supplies.

The United States has reiterated its call for a "durable and sustainable" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants ruling the Gaza Strip.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that the Hamas organization had chosen not to renew a six-month ceasefire agreement.

"In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire. That is the objective to which all parties need to be working and that is what the United States is working towards. "

At the same time, he said the United States has asked Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.

In Washington, the US State Department echoed the White House and said the United States was "vigorously engaged" in trying to restore the ceasefire and make it "durable and sustainable".

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, also called for an immediate ceasefire to the military actions.

"The only way in which security for Israel will be guaranteed is if it can live at peace with its neighbours including a Palestinian state and that's why even at this impossibly difficult time when there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza which needs to be addressed, when there is military action that needs to be met by a ceasefire, an immediate ceasefire, we need to keep open, hold onto the idea that there can be a negotiated political settlement in the Middle East which is in the interest of Israel and the whole of the Arab world."

Meanwhile Germany blamed Hamas for the escalation of violence in the Middle East, although it called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties.