India Sunday expressed deep concern over escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza strip which it said is threatening peace and security in the region.

"We are deeply concerned at the steep escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, focused around Gaza, that threatens the peace and security of that region," the Indo-Asian News Service quoted a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs as saying.

"We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid taking any action that may further exacerbate the situation," the spokesperson said.

He also said an emergency meeting on the Palestinian issue was held at the UN Security Council on Nov. 14 under India's presidency to send a strong message from the council on the need to de-escalate the situation.

India has given strong support to the Palestinian cause in the past through Non-aligned Movement and other international forums. But relations between New Delhi and Tel Aviv have warmed up over the past several years due to Israeli supply of military technology and equipment to India.