Germany's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it was "very concerned" at the high number of civilians who have been killed or injured during Israel's military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus.
"Even when countering extremist forces, the proportionality of the means employed and the absolute protection of the civilian population must always be guaranteed," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson added in a statement.
Gaza militants fired rockets and Israel carried out air strikes across the Israel-Gaza frontier on Thursday, a day after 11 Palestinian were killed during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank, renewing concerns of broader escalation.