United Nations (PTI): The UN Security Council on Sunday called for an immediate end to all military activities in the Gaza Strip, where about 280 people have been killed in the Israeli air strikes in the last two days.

In a statement, the UNSC asked all parties involved in the conflict in the area to restrain. Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin described the statement as "modest" which diplomats say was open to different interpretations by the US and Israel on one hand and Arab diplomats on the other.

The statement, which reflected the lowest common denominator among the 15 Council members, expressed serious concern at the "escalation of situation in Gaza" and called on all parties to immediately halt all military activity.

Diplomats said that the Council decided not to go in for an open debate as it would have led to clash and acrimonious debate among the member States and perhaps shifted the emphasis from ending the violence.

Immediately after the statement was made following several hours of closed door consultation among the Council members, the US and Israel gave differing interpretation.

While Washington and Tel Aviv said it was aimed at stopping rockets being fired by Hamas into the Israeli territory, Arab diplomats said it was clearly meant to end Israeli air attacks and blockade of crossings into Gaza that has led to deterioration in humanitarian situation in the Gaza which depends on imports to meet its basic needs.

The statement also took note of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza when it called for opening of the border crossing into Gaza by Israel to allow food, fuel and medical supplies.

Both side said they would wait to see whether the other side honoured the Council's statement. The Arabs threatened to come "knocking at the doors" of the Council if Israel failed to stop its military action within next 24 to 48 hours. At that stage, there could be an open debate.

The Council met after more than 270 people died in air strikes by the Israeli planes in the Hamas-ruled Gaza. Hamas retaliated with intensified rocket attacks and reports said Tel Aviv might be preparing to launch a ground assault.

The Council meeting, requested by Libya, also called for "restoration of full calm," in an implied reference to ending of ceasefire by Hamas a week ago in response to Israel restricting humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

The Council diplomats agreed that the statement was weak but said that was the best they could agree on without publicly revealing the differing perspectives.

As Russian envoy Churkin put it, strong statement made over the years did not affect anything. "Our hope and our expectation" is that this modest press statement would have an impact.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour interpreted the statement to mean that Israel should stop military action and that it would again come to the Council if it did not evoke response within next 48 hours or so.

But Israeli Ambassador Gabriela Shaley said his country would see if Hamas is really going to abide by the Council's call and stop rocket attacks. On that basis, would it draw its own conclusions.

American UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said stopping of rocket attacks by Hamas into Israel as the on way forward and asserted that Tel Aviv has the right to self defense.