Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Saturday Egypt was keeping contacts with all parties concerned to stem the deterioration of the security situation in the Gaza Strip, the official MENA news agency reported.

Recent escalation of violence between the Palestinians and Israelis might lead to a return to "the cycle of violence and counter-violence," Abul Gheit was quoted as saying."Using military aircraft in attacking civilian areas in the (Gaza) Strip is a violation of international law and a direct threat to the lives of defenseless civilians," he said, in a reference to the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Saturday for thefirst time since it withdrew from Gaza on Sept. 12. Hamas blamed Israel for the explosion that killed 19 Palestinians at an armed rally held by Hamas on Friday in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip.

Hamas militants fired from Gaza on Saturday about 40 homemade rockets on southern Israel, wounding seven Israelis, as retaliation for Friday's explosion.

In a response, Israeli helicopter fired missiles at two cars in Gaza City, killing two Hamas militants.

Source: Xinhua