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More than 500 Palestinians are reported to have died in the fighting in Gaza and more than 3,000 have been injured while 18 Israeli soldiers and two civilians have been killed. The crisis has divided opinion, as usual, with leading British politicians taking different views. Here are some of the comments they have made.
What Politicians Have Said About Gaza
'I support Israel's right to defend itself but that right has to be exercised in a proportionate way. That is what international law says.'(01 of09)
While the prime minister expressed "grave concern" about the deaths of Palestinian civilians, he made clear he held Hamas responsible for the current crisis. (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
'We oppose the Israeli incursion into Gaza.'(02 of09)
The Labour leader has gone further in his criticism of Israel than Cameron. He told The Huffington Post that he did not support the Israeli action, and added: "I defend Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks. But I cannot explain, justify or defend the horrifying deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including children and innocent civilians." (credit:PA/PA Wire)
'A deliberately disproportionate form of collective punishment'(03 of09)
The Lib Dem leader has also been highly critical of Israel. Clegg urged both sides to prevent further deaths and a continuation of what he described as "unimaginable human suffering" in Gaza. He told LBC: "I would really now call on the Israeli government to stop. They have made their point." (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
Israeli action must be 'proportionate'(04 of09)
Foreign secretary Philip Hammond has said:"Israel has a right to defend itself against these rocket attacks coming from Gaza, but it must do so in a way that is proportionate and it must take all measures necessary to prevent unnecessary loss of civilian life."He told the BBC: "I have asked the Israelis to use every effort they can to minimise the loss of civilian life. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
'We don’t think an appropriate response to acts of terrorism is to escalate to effectively an invasion'(05 of09)
Scottish first minister Alex Salmond said on Saturday: "We believe that the Palestinians have the right to pursue their state in a viable manner. We don’t think an appropriate response to acts of terrorism is to escalate to effectively an invasion. We call for de-escalation, peaceful co-existence, and we will make what practical assistance we can available.” (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
'In any other conflict they would be described as war crimes.'(06 of09)
Former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain told MPs yesterday that Israel had gone too far. "These attacks, despite the horrendous rocket assault on Israel, despite that, and the extremism of Hamas, these attacks are not proportionate - in any other conflict they would be described as war crimes."What will happen is that a moderate Palestinian leadership having been replaced by Hamas through the failure to succeed in negotiations - Hamas, as the respected former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy has suggested, could soon be replaced by Isis in Gaza. We have to start as the West speaking the truth, acting, and persuading the Israeli government to negotiate seriously." (credit:JOHN STILLWELL via Getty Images)
'End Hamas terror tunnels'(07 of09)
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool, Riverside and chair of the transport committee told MPs that the government needed to focus on the actions of Hamas as well."Does the much-needed call for a ceasefire in Gaza include a call for the end of Hamas’s terror tunnels and does the Prime Minister agree that they, too, are a war crime?" she said. (credit:Labour Party/The Labour Party)
'Israel is in consistent and today grievous breach of the Geneva Conventions'(08 of09)
Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, David Cameron's former prisons minister asked the prime minister yesterday: "When democracies depart from the rule of law they give legal and moral authority to our enemies. Israel is in consistent and today grievous breach of the Geneva Conventions. What are you doing to bring Israel back within the rule of law?" (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Archive)
'The Israelis are killing women and children'(09 of09)
Respect MP George Galloway told a rally in London at the weekend: "The Israelis are killing women and children. It’s gone on this week and for decades past. There is no peace because there is no justice." (credit:LOUAI BESHARA via Getty Images)