Hague urges restraint as Gaza crisis deepens

The Foreign Secretary warned Israel that it risked losing international sympathy if it escalated its campaign against Palestinian militants into a ground invasion.

But he repeated his insistence that Hamas bore “principal responsibility” for the violence and urged its leaders to cease a barrage of missiles still being fired at Tel Aviv and other areas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet the Israel Defence Forces were prepared for a “serious broadening” of the operation – amid fears it will send in troops.

Several women and children were among 11 reportedly killed in an airstrike on a residential area as Israel expanded its targets to what it said were the homes of wanted militants.

There was also criticism of an attack on two media centres – with Hamas communications the alleged target – that wounded six local journalists and damaged international broadcasters’ equipment.

Medical officials say 32 civilians are among 66 killed so far. Three Israeli citizens have died.

Mr Hague told Sky News that Hamas “bears principal responsibility for starting all of this” but added: “The Prime Minister and I have both stressed to our Israeli counterparts that a ground invasion of Gaza would lose Israel a lot of the international support and sympathy they have in this situation.”

Mr Hague accused Iran of playing a key role in supplying Hamas militants with arms and the rockets which created the crisis.

Egypt is leading efforts to broker a ceasefire and an Israeli envoy was in Cairo for talks yesterday.

US President Barack Obama backed Israel’s right to defend itself but warned against a ground war.