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New York - The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting late Saturday to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, which was pounded by Israeli airstrikes.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was to attend the closed-door session, requested by Libya, which was expected to begin at 10 pm (0300GMT), UN spokeswoman Marie Okaba said.

Israel unleashed waves of airstrikes against the Gaza Strip Saturday, targeting Hamas installations and personnel, and killing 225 people, most of them militants. More than 750 people were injured.

Earlier Saturday, Ban called for an immediate halt to the renewed violence in the Middle East.

"While recognizing Israel's security concerns regarding the continued firing of rockets from Gaza, he firmly reiterates Israel's obligation to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law and condemns excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians," a statement from Ban's spokesperson said.

"He condemns the ongoing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants and is deeply distressed that repeated calls on Hamas for these attacks to end have gone unheeded," it added.

Israel's UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev defended her country's actions in the Gaza Strip in a letter to Ban, which claimed Hamas was solely responsible for the events.

"Israel has exhausted all means and efforts to reach and maintain quiet and to respect the state of calm ... Israel's response is aimed solely against the terrorists and their infrastructures in the Gaza Strip. It is not intended against the civilian population. Israel is committed to prevent a humanitarian crisis," the letter said.//DPA