BERLIN 

Germany has failed to condemn Israel’s excessive and disproportionate use of force against civilians over the weekend in the Gaza Strip.

Deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer told a news conference on Monday that Israel had the right to "self-defense" and to respond appropriately to rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory.

Demmer expressed hope that a ceasefire which began early Monday morning will hold.

Since Saturday, 25 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and two infants, were martyred and more than 100 others wounded by Israeli air strikes, according to medical officials.

The Israeli army targeted some 320 sites across the blockaded enclave, including a building where Anadolu Agency's office was located.

The escalation in the Gaza Strip started on Friday, after four Palestinians were martyred in Israeli army attacks. Palestinian groups responded by launching more than 600 rockets and mortars towards Israeli settlements.

Four Israeli citizens were killed and four were wounded by the rockets, according to Israeli authorities.