Miliband joins EU Gaza crisis talks

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The gathering comes amid mounting international concern over Israeli air strikes which have killed more than 350 Palestinians and left another 1,400 wounded.

Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak has promised a "war to the bitter end" to defeat the militant Hamas group which controls the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations and the European Union have condemned Israel's actions. But the US, the most influential power-broker in the Middle East conflict, has refused to call for an Israeli ceasefire, instead placing the onus on Hamas to end cross-border rocket attacks against southern Israel.

Mr Miliband has expressed "grave concern" about the situation in Gaza and has called for an immediate ceasefire.

The EU meeting, to be chaired by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, will explore ways of easing the crisis in tandem with the rest of the international community.

Downing Street said on Monday it was "appalled" at the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip after a third day of Israeli air strikes against the Palestinian enclave.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been pressing his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Olmert, to ensure access for humanitarian teams.

The devastation caused by the air strikes has overwhelmed hospitals and exacerbated shortages of fuel, food and medicines in Gaza.

Palestinian officials said their death toll stood at 364, with another 1,400 reported wounded. Most are members of Hamas's security forces, but the UN said at least 62 civilians were among the dead.