Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller says that Israel's response to attacks from Gaza are disproportionate.

"The new spiral of violence in the Middle East is deeply worrying. The spiral of violence was started by Hamas, prompting a disproportionate response Saturday and Sunday from Israel," Stig Møller says.

"But this development is seriously damaging the peace process and the two-state solution which is precisely what Hamas is trying to do. I therefore call on both parties to stop the violence. Although Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism and terrorist rockets, civilian losses are unacceptable," the foreign minister continues.

"Therefore, Israel must contribute to an improvement of the humanitarian situation for Gazans and enable humanitarian assistance to reach them. Continued battles only serve the Hamas (Ed: cause) and seriously weaken the possibility of reaching a political agreement, which is the only solution to the conflict," Stig Møller says.

Continuing attacks
Stig Møller's statement came following Israeli air raids in the Gaza strip that targeted Hamas-related buildings as well as tunnels leading to and from Egypt which are said to be used to smuggle materiel and other items into Gaza.

The latest buildings to be hit in Gaza were The Islamic University, where many Hamas officials are said to have been trained, and the Interior Ministry.

Israeli attacks on Gaza began on Saturday in response to rocket attacks from Gaza. International media reports say all of Gaza's main towns had been hit, including Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah.

There are reports that Israel may also be planning a land incursion into Gaza, with some 6,500 reservists reported to have been called up.

Casualties
Casualty numbers remain uncertain, although the BBC is reporting Palestinian medics as saying that some 300 people have died in the attacks, with CNN reporting a further 650 wounded.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that one Israeli was killed and 14 others were wounded when a Palestinian missile exploded near a construction site in Ashkelon. The newspaper added that at least 17 rockets had been fired into Israel since Monday morning - eight of which hit Ashkelon, five Sderot and four others hitting various towns in the Western Negev, which also took a barrage of some 40 rockets on Sunday.

Haaretz added that two Katyusha rockets exploded near the town of Ashdod on Sunday - the deepest that rockets have so far penetrated Israel from Gaza, some 30 kilometers away.

The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate end to the violence.