New York - The diplomatic mediating group on the Middle East peace process on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire that would be "fully respected" by Israel and Hamas and called on both sides to allow humanitarian missions into the Gaza Strip.

The group, known as the quartet, said in a short statement issued at UN headquarters in New York that it will remain in touch to try to bring four days of fighting to an end.

It called on "all parties to address the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza and to take necessary measures to ensure the continuous provisions of humanitarian supplies."

It agreed "on the urgent need for Israelis and Palestinians to continue on the road to peace."

UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discussed by telephone the situation in Gaza with his quartet counterparts: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and European Union's chief foreign affairs Javier Solana.

He also talked to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the quartet's envoy to the Middle East, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

On Monday, Ban, Washington and several European capitals called for a ceasefire in the fierce Israel-Hamas conflict, which entered a fourth day on Tuesday.

Arab governments and the Palestinian Authority have also urged the UN Security Council in New York to demand a ceasefire from Israel in an attempt to avert a potential ground attack in Gaza by Israeli troops.

The Israeli government has so far rejected calls for an end of hostilities, including a proposal by Paris for a 48-hour ceasefire to allow Hamas to halt its rocket and mortar attacks against southern Israel. (dpa)