BRUSSELS (EJP)---The European Union urged an immediate halt to Israeli air strikes and Palestinian attacks in and around Gaza, and condemned  the "disproportionate use of force."

The current EU French presidency issued a statement on Saturday expressing its utmost concern on the escalation of violence in the Gaza strip and deploring the great number of civilian victims.

Israel has insisted that the goal of the operation in Gaza was to strike a major blow to Hamas and its terror infrastructure, and to protect Israeli citizens.

The air strikes were in response to increased rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip over recent days, since Hamas put an end to the truce with Israel.

The EU recalled that that it condemned on December 24 rockets attacks against the Israeli territory.

"There is no military solution in Gaza," the EU statement said, urging a lasting truce. T

The EU is a member of the so-called "Quartet" of Mideast peace mediators, with the United States, the United Nations and Russia.

The EU urged the "reopening of all checkpoints and the immediate resumption of fuel and humanitarian aid deliveries."

It also offered support for Egypt's efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls the Gaza strip.

In Brussels,  Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, said Israel's strikes were "inflicting an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians" and complicating the search for peace.

In a statement, Solana said: “I am extremely concerned at the current violence and bloodshed in and around Gaza and, first of all, I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of the Palestinian and Israeli victims.

“I call for an immediate cessation of military actions on both sides. The EU has repeatedly condemned rocket attacks against Israel. The current Israeli strikes are inflicting an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians and will only worsen the humanitarian crisis as well as complicate the search for a peaceful solution.”

“There is no military solution to situation in Gaza. I therefore urge the parties to return to the calm as brokered by Egypt and call on everybody in the region to use their influence to encourage restraint and prevent recourse to violence,” Solana added.

“Passages in and out of Gaza should be reopened to allow humanitarian and regular commercial flows. As we have already said previously, the EU is ready to resume its monitoring mission at Rafah.”

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also expressed grave concern at the Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. 

She called on all sides “to exercise the utmost restraint, and to stop the escalation of violence which endangers the civilian population. She also called on both sides to return immediately to the ceasefire.”

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned Hamas for abandoning the cease-fire with Israel and urged the Islamist group to "immediately and permanently stop the insufferable rocket attacks on Israel."

Steinmeier, quoted in German weekly Bild am Sonntag on Saturday, urged Israel to keep its military response "within proportion" of the incoming attacks and to avoid attacking civilians.

In London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Israel to show "restraint".

Downing Street said Brown had called his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert, asking him to "show restraint" and seek a peaceful settlement with Hamas.

"I am deeply concerned by continuing missile strikes from Gaza on Israel and by Israel's response," he said.

"As the Quartet stated on December 15, peaceful means are the only way of reaching a lasting solution to the situation in Gaza. 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 president 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."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spoke by telephone Saturday with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit to offer Europe's backing for his mediation efforts.

Israel said it has been patient up until now, but could not tolerate the unending attacks. "Hamas was the party responsible for the suffering that would incur.," it added.