"The Brazilian government considers unacceptable [the] escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.

"We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip, from which large numbers of civilian casualties, including women and children resulted," the statement added.

The measure comes on the 17th day of a brutal Israeli onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 700 Palestinians.

International human rights agencies and the Gaza Health Ministry say that more than 80 percent of those killed in the impoverished enclave have been civilian, many of them women and children.

"The Brazilian Government reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire between the parties," the statement said.

"In addition,” the statement noted, “the ambassador of Brazil in Tel Aviv was called to Brasilia for consultations."

MB/MB