Britain has accused the Israeli army of using indiscriminate force against the Palestinians, and called on the country to do its upmost to prevent further civilian deaths.
"The indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli Defence Force only fuels the cycle of violence, denying both Israelis and Palestinians the security they deserve," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a statement.
"Our ambassador to Israel will raise our concerns with the Israel authorities today and I call on them to do everything within their power to prevent further deaths of civilians," he added.
Mr Straw's comments come after eight Palestinians, including a nine-month pregnant woman and a child, were killed in the Gaza Strip yesterday as Israel intensified its crackdown on Islamic militants.
Soldiers blew up four houses of suspected militants after telling residents to leave, but the 33-year-old pregnant woman failed to do so and was crushed to death.
Mr Straw expressed deep concern over the civilian deaths, and noted that some 36 Palestinians had been killed on the West Bank and Gaza since February 20th.
He urged both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume the political process so that they can reach a political settlement by 2005.
Yesterday, the US State Department sharply criticised Israel's policy of demolishing homes and civilian buildings, noting with deep concern that innocent people were killed as a result.
AFP