AFP

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi accused Israel on Wednesday of "blocking" all attempts to end the Gaza conflict, a day after the collapse of a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

"Israel is blocking any kind of agreement leading to calm" in the Gaza Strip, Arabi told journalists.

"The Arab League wants to reach a permanent truce as soon as possible," he said before flying off to Geneva for a meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross to demand protection of Palestinian civilians.

Eight days of calm under an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire exploded into violence late Tuesday as Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza in retaliation for cross-border rocket attacks.

More than 2,030 Palestinians have been killed and 67 people have died on the Israeli side since July 8 when the conflict erupted.