Singapore  - Expressing concern over the continuing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, Singapore urged Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint and renew a truce that ended December 19.

"We are deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza with mounting civilian casualties and the possibility of a humanitarian catastrophe," the Singapore Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and work towards an early re-establishment of the ceasefire," it said.

Singapore also said that once a ceasefire was reached, "we hope that there will not be a repetition of the events that also resulted in the loss of many innocent lives and led to the current escalation of conflict."

But the conflict seemed set to intensify. Palestinian militants launched missiles Monday night at Israeli targets, as Israel, after three days of massive airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, was readying to expand its offensive against the Islamist group to a ground assault.

The toll of Operation "Cast Lead" - launched Saturday to curb rocket and mortar attacks from the strip - reached to at least 345 Palestinians dead and 1,600 injured, Gaza emergency services chief Mu'awia Hassanein said. (dpa)