Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday called for an immediate stop of the ongoing Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed some 369 Palestinians since Saturday.
President Mubarak made his call in a televised speech on the occasion of the Islamic Hijri (New Year) and the Christian Gregorian New Year.
The Egyptian President reiterated his rejection and condemnation of the Israeli attacks on Gaza, noting the Israeli troops should stop its military operations "immediately."
"Egypt is seeking to stop the attacks immediately and without preconditions," said President Mubarak, noting that Israeli leaders should be responsible for the bloodletting of the Palestinian people.
President Mubarak warned the current situation in Gaza was very dangerous and that the Israeli attacks should stop to prevent more Palestinian bloodshed.
He said his country had exerted great efforts to maintain a truce between the two conflicting sides in and around Gaza and help close ranks among various Palestinian factions.
About 369 Palestinians have so far been killed and 1,700 others wounded in the powerful offensive which Israel said was in revenge for nearly daily cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
The Egypt-brokered truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups led by Hamas expired on December 19.