LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday said he was "deeply concerned" by rocket attacks into Israel and retaliatory air strikes by the Jewish state, and called for restraint from both sides.
"I am deeply concerned by continuing missile strikes from Gaza on Israel and by Israel's response today," Brown said, reiterating statements made by the Middle East Quartet -- the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and Russia -- that only peaceful means would provide a lasting solution.
A spokeswoman for the British premier's Downing Street office said Brown had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and "urged him to show restraint".
"I call on Gazan militants to cease all rocket attacks on Israel immediately. These attacks are designed to cause random destruction and to undermine the prospects of peace talks led by (Palestinian) president (Mahmud) Abbas.
"I understand the Israeli government's sense of obligation to its population.
"Israel needs to meet its humanitarian obligations, act in a way to further the long-term vision of a two-state solution, and do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties.
"There is a pre-eminent need for renewal of a comprehensive settlement for the Israel-Palestine dispute in 2009."
Israel blitzed Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday with a wave of air strikes in the besieged enclave in retaliation for ongoing rocket fire, killing more than 228 Palestinians, while Hamas swiftly responded by firing rockets into the Jewish state.
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