The UN Security Council has demanded a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip as the death toll there soared to more than 500, Palestinian officials say.
"The members of the Security Council express serious concern about the growing numbers of casualties," said Rwanda's ambassador to the UN Eugene-Richard Gasana, the current holder of the council's rotating presidency.
"The members of the Security Council called for respect of international humanitarian law including protection of civilians," Gasana said after a meeting in New York.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon pressed ahead with his push for a truce in a trip to the region, and was expected in Cairo later on Monday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry was also heading back this week to bolster regional efforts to reach a ceasefire.
The death toll after 14 days of fighting was at least 508, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said. He added that 3135 have been injured.
Heavy fighting continued overnight in eastern Gaza City's Shiyajiah neighbourhood, a day after dozens of Palestinians - many of them civilians - and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in the area.
At least 10 militants were killed in the fighting in Shiyajiah, military spokesman Peter Lerner said.
Israeli soldiers had taken 20 prisoners since the ground offensive was launched late on Thursday, he said.
At least 18 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the ground fighting and two Israeli civilians by rockets fired by Palestinians, and scores injured.
The Israeli military also said it foiled a Hamas infiltration attempt on Monday through two tunnels leading from northern Gaza into southern Israel.
The military said 10 infiltrators were killed after being detected and targeted by Israeli aircraft.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive would continue "as long as necessary" to end attacks from Gaza on Israeli civilians.
On Sunday evening, Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri in Gaza claimed his group had captured an Israeli soldier.
But Israel's ambassador to the UN denied that one of its soldiers had been captured in the Gaza Strip.
"There is no kidnapped Israeli soldier," ambassador Ron Prosor said in New York.
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