Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak condemned the Israeli Defence Force air strikes on the Gaza Strip and called for an immediate cessation of military operations.

Najib, in his Facebook account's update today stressed that Malaysia deplored any loss of innocent lives and called on all parties to exercise restraint.

"Peace can only come with the creation of a viable two-state solution and all parties should adhere to this principle," he said.

According to the emergency services in Gaza City, 11 women and children were among 17 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian Territory, Wednesday, hiking the overall death toll to 38 in two days.

More than 300 people have been wounded.