NEW YORK, December 28, 2008 (WAFA)- The UN Security Council convened, Sunday, at a Libyan request, and called for an immediate halt to all violence in Gaza after a day of Israeli air strikes  that have resulted in 282 martyrs and more than 700 wounded.

'The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern at the escalation of the situation in Gaza and called for an immediate halt to all violence,' President of the council, Neven Jurica said, Sunday,  in a statement, 'the members called on the parties to stop immediately all military activities.'

After a four hour meeting, the Council issued a statement calling on all parties to address 'the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza' and to take necessary measures, including the opening of border crossings, to ensure Gaza's people were supplied with food, fuel and medical treatment.

Members of the Security Council 'stressed the need for the restoration of calm in full' in order to open the way for a Palestinian-Israeli political solution.

Palestinian medical officials reported that 282 Palestinians have been killed  and 700 wounded, so far in the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.