FRANCE condemned Israel's move to send ground forces into the Gaza Striptoday as well as continued Hamas rocket attacks and urged both Israel and the Palestinian group to accept ceasefire proposals.

"France condemns the Israeli ground offensive against Gaza as it condemns the continuation of rocket firing," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"This dangerous military escalation complicates efforts by the international community and in particular the European Union and France, the members of the Quartet and the states in the region to end the fighting, bring immediate aid to civilians and reach a permanent ceasefire," the statement said.