REACTIONS- At least 195 killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza

GORDON JOHNDROE - WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMANÂ
"Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop. Hamas must end its terrorist activities if it wishes to play a role in the future of the Palestinian people."

"The United States urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza."

EU PRESIDENCY
"The EU presidency expresses greatest concern at the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and deplores the very large number of civilian victims."

"It condemns the Israeli bombardments as well as the firing of rockets from Gaza. It demands their immediate halt. It condemns the disproportionate use of force."

EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU - OIC
"The latest Israeli massacre is a war crime and shows what little regard Israel has for international law and the 4th Geneva convention on the protection of civilians in time of war."

ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCE STATEMENT:
"The IDF will continue its operations against terror in accordance with constant status assessments by the IDF Chief of General Staff. This operation will be continued, expanded and intensified as much as required."

ISLAMIC JIHAD:
"All fighters are ordered to respond to the Israeli slaughter."

BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT:
"The only way to achieve lasting peace in Gaza is through peaceful means. Whilst we understand the Israeli government's obligation to protect its population we urge maximum restraint to avoid further civilian casualties"

"We also call on miltants in the Gaza Strip to immediately cease all rocket attacks on Israel."

HASSAN GHASHGAVI - IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN
"Iran demands urgent action... from the U.N. Security Council, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other countries to prevent the Zionist regime from continuing its crimes."

"These crimes... are proof of the aggressive attitude of the Zionist regime and are the result of silence in the international community to the unjust encirclement of the people of Gaza."

HOSNI MUBAREK - EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT
"Egypt condemns the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip and blames Israel, as an occupying force, for the victims and the wounded."

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
"Russia believes it is necessary to halt immediately the large-scale acts of force against the Gaza Strip, which have already caused considerable victims and suffering amongst the Palestinian population."

"At the same time, we call on the leadership of Hamas to stop firing rocket on Israeli territory."