Palestinian President Suspends Peace Talks

Early Sunday, the U.N. Security Council urged both sides "to immediately cease all acts of violence." U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused Israel of using "excessive" force.

The president of the European Union, Slovenia, criticized "the recent disproportionate use of force" by the Israeli military against Palestinians in Gaza and described Israel's policy as "collective punishment." The statement also condemned the firing of rockets into Israel.

The United States called for both sides to stop fighting but acknowledged Israel's right to defend itself.

"We call for an end to violence and all acts of terrorism directed against innocent civilians," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement. "There is a clear distinction between terrorist rocket attacks that target civilians and action in self-defense."

Israel has said its operations are designed to protect the nation from Hamas, which Israeli officials say has lately been receiving higher quality weapons from Iran.

"We have to destroy the Iranian enclave," said Yuval Steinitz, a leader in the Likud Party who advocates a full-scale invasion of Gaza. "We have to level a heavy blow to the terrorist infrastructure."

Special correspondent Reyham Abdulkarim in Gaza City contributed to this report.