Berlin - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his concern Sunday at the escalation in fighting triggered by Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"The latest military action has sent hopes of an early cessation of hostilities receding into the distance," the minister said in a statement released in Berlin.

"There is an urgent need to work together with all our partners to see what contribution the international community can make towards creating the necessary conditions for a ceasefire," he said.

Steinmeier appealed to the warring parties to allow humanitarian supplies into to the Gaza Strip so that food and medicine can be distributed to the population.

At the same time, the minister said steps should be introduced in order to provide permanent guarantees for the security of Israel.

It was not enough for militants of the radical Hamas movement ruling Gaza to cease firing missiles at the Jewish state, he said. There also had to be an end to the smuggling of arms into Gaza.

Steinmeier has been in regular telephone contact with the current EU president, the Czech Republic, as well as foreign minister in Europe and the Middle East.

On Saturday he conferred with his British and Norwegian counterparts and planned to contact Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni later Sunday, his ministry said. (dpa)