CAIRO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has called on Israel and the Palestinians to halt escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, Egypt's state television reported Tuesday.

Egypt has told Israeli authorities the need to halt escalating operations in Gaza and abide by the path of calm and the progress achieved, the report quoted a high-level Egyptian official as saying.

The remarks came after Israel staged airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday, in response to intensive shelling on Israeli territory from Gaza militants.

Egypt has also urged Palestinians to "commit to self-restraint, not to be dragged into an armed conflict, and to return to the negotiating table."

The abrupt flare-up, which has also killed a civilian in Israel, was sparked by a failed Israeli undercover raid in Gaza on Sunday night.

The undercover soldiers, reportedly on a reconnaissance mission, were discovered by Hamas fighters, prompting a fire exchange that cost the lives of seven Palestinian militants, including a Hamas commander, and an Israeli military officer.

The sudden burst of violence potentially shattered hopes for a long-term agreement between Israel and Hamas, as Egyptian and UN officials have been working to broker a cease-fire deal for Israel to ease its 12-year blockade on Gaza. Enditem

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