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.

Steinmeier discussed the situation in separate telephone calls on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

He called for speedy efforts to ensure "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza does not deteriorate and urgently needed relief supplies can be distributed to the population, his ministry said.

At the same time, Steinmeier said steps should be introduced that would 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 was also a need for a reliable control mechanism at crossing points with Gaza to halt arms smuggling, he added.

The European Union has expressed its willingness to resume its border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian-Egyptian border, he pointed out.

The mission, which was established in 2005, scaled back its operations after Hamas seized control of the coastal strip in 2007.

"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 has also been in regular telephone contact with the current EU president, the Czech Republic, as well as foreign ministers in Europe and the Middle East. On Saturday he conferred with his British and Norwegian counterparts. (dpa)