The White House on Wednesday rebuked Israel over its military actions in the Gaza Strip that killed at least 30 Palestinians within two days.

"While we believe that Israel has the right to act to defend itself and its citizens, we do not see that its operations in Gazain the last few days serve the purposes of peace and security," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a written statement.

"They have worsened the humanitarian situation and resulted in confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians, and have not, we believe, enhanced Israel's security," McClellan said.

At a news briefing earlier Wednesday, McClellan said the UnitedStates had asked Israel for an explanation over its massive military operation that inflicted heavy Palestinian casualties inthe Gaza Strip.

McClellan said this was "a tragic event" but did not choose to condemn Israel, a key US ally in the Middle East.

Israel faced worldwide condemnation over its military operationin the Gaza Strip as another 10 Palestinians were killed Wednesday when Israel opened fire on a demonstration in the area of Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

As many as 20 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday in Israel's Operation Rainbow, the largest Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian uprising began nearly four years ago.

Source: Xinhua