Oslo  - Norway urged Israel to "immediately" halt its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, which Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store described as "a dramatic escalation of the conflict."

Store also expressed concern for the civilian population in Gaza and Israel.

"Hamas has to immediately cease its rocket attacks on Israel. The warfare has one victim - the civil population on both sides. There is no military solution to this conflict," Store said in a statement late Saturday soon after the Israeli forces moved into Gaza.

He also called on United Nations Security Council and regional parties to intervene, and seek a permanent peace solution. dpa