London  - A number of prominent British Jews published an open letter Sunday expressing their "horror" at the Gaza conflict and calling on the Israeli government to stop its military campaign.

In the letter in The Observer newspaper, the 11 signatories said they were writing "as profound and passionate supporters of Israel. We look upon the increasing loss of life on both sides of the Gaza conflict with horror."

Among the signatories were Baroness Julia Neuberger, former Local Government Association chairman Sir Jeremy Beecham and Dr Tony Bayfield, the head of the Movement for Reform Judaism.

They said the rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups were "war crimes against Israel" and that they supported Israel's right in putting a stop to the rocket attacks. But it questioned the military actions and called for a stop.

"However, we believe that now only negotiations can secure long- term security for Israel and the region," it said. "We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilise the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its one million Arab citizens."

The letter came as two pro-Israel rallies were set to take place on Sunday in the cities of London and Manchester, coming a day after mass demonstrations in London protesting against the Israeli attacks. dpa