ISRAEL: Poltical reaction, by James Hamilton

GORDON Brown last night expressed "deep concern" over the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The prime minister urged both sides to exercise restraint amid signs that tit-for-tat clashes are spiralling out of control.

Israel said the strikes by F-16 bombers were in response to a recent escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza since a truce with the Hamas militant group expired a few days ago. Palestinian officials reported more than 200 killed, with hundreds more injured.

"I am deeply concerned by continuing missile strikes from Gaza on Israel and by Israel's response today," said Brown. "As the Quartet the US, Russia, EU and UN 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..

"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."

He went on: "There is a pre-eminent need for renewal of a comprehensive settlement for the Israel-Palestine dispute in 2009."

Former PM Tony Blair, who represents the Quartet powers in the region, said: "The terrible events and tragic loss of life in Gaza require, in the immediate term, the introduction of a genuine calm in which the rocket attacks aimed at killing Israeli civilians and the Israeli attacks on Gaza cease so that the suffering of the people, which is severe, can be lifted.

"Then, as I have said many times before, we need to devise a new strategy for Gaza which brings that territory back under the legitimate rule of the Palestinian Authority."

Conservative leader David Cameron commented: "Obviously the pictures on our television screens are pretty horrific, and all civilian casualties are a matter of great regret, so I hope both sides will show restraint. Everyone understands that Israel has a right to defend herself, and she has been attacked by rocket attack after rocket attack. We need Israel to show restraint and the militants in the Gaza Strip to stop firing rockets. In the end the only progress will be political progress."

The Foreign Office urged both Tel Aviv and Palestinian leaders to pursue "peaceful means" of reaching a settlement, while a White House spokesman said the US "urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties".

Aid agencies working in Gaza called on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups to pull back from the brink of an all-out military confrontation, saying military action would leave a humanitarian catastrophe in its wake.

Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International, said: "Gaza has already been paralysed by the Israeli blockade. An attack on Gaza could completely destroy essential infrastructure for hospitals and homes."

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: "The danger is that this will spark a new spiral of violence and terror, when what is really needed is an international effort to restore the ceasefire," he added. "Israel knows the international community condemns the attacks by Hamas, but it should also realise from the past that this sort of mass attack will only postpone the peace Israel and the region need."

Two MSPs recently returned from a humanitarian mission in Gaza also criticised Israel. LibDem Hugh O'Donnell called Israel's response "disproportionate", while Labour's Pauline McNeill said: "It is quite shocking behaviour from Israel."