Israel 'must stop' Gaza ground operation: Abbas

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called on Israel to stop its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, saying it will cause more bloodshed and complicate efforts to end the conflict, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported Friday.

Abbas' remarks came hours after Israel launched a ground operation aimed at hitting the Palestinian militant Hamas group, and as the death toll in Gaza hit 247 early on Friday.

"Israel must stop its (ground) operation in the Gaza Strip," MENA quoted Abbas as saying as he addressed a group of Egyptian intellectuals and journalists in Cairo.

"This operation would only lead to more bloodshed and complicate the situation and efforts to stop the (Israeli) aggression."

On Thursday, Abbas met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi amid intense diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group, Hamas, which entered its 11th day on Friday.