Islamabad (PTI): Pakistan on Sunday sought an immediate halt to Israeli ground and air strikes in Gaza to prevent further loss of human lives and destruction of property.

"The government of Pakistan has condemned the events in Gaza. The Israeli aggression should be stopped immediately and a ceasefire put in place. The ground and air strikes should be stopped," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.

Israel sent ground forces into the Gaza Strip after a week of air strikes and its troops are reported to be engaged in heavy clashes with Hamas fighters. Both sides have reported casualties.

"The loss of innocent lives and destruction of property should be stopped," Qureshi told a news conference in his hometown of Multan.

Other countries have backed Pakistan's stand and the issue was being discussed by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the UN to find a solution, he said.

The Muslim "ummah" (brotherhood) should show solidarity and effectively raise its voice for the Palestinian people, he said. The Iranian President sent his special envoy to Pakistan yesterday to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and discuss the situation in Gaza, he added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had called for a joint strategy to be adopted by Muslim nations on the Palestinian issue. "Such a strategy is under discussion as it is a serious and humanitarian issue," Qureshi said.

Israeli troops have so far killed dozens of Hamas militants during the ground operation into Gaza that started on Saturday, a week after launching airstrikes on the coastal strip which claimed lives of over 460 people.