Ashkenazi meets German counterpart, thanks him for "solidarity"

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi welcomed his German counterpart Heiko Maas to Ben Gurion airport on Thursday.

Ashkenazi thanked Maas for coming to Israel, as the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians showed no sign of abating.

"I want to thank him in behalf of the government of Israel and the people in Israel for the solidarity, for the support and for standing with us. This is very important for us," said Ashkenazi.

"I hope that we bring this operation to the desired ending."

Maas was also expected to meet with the Palestinian side.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday foreign ministers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia would also arrive in Israel on Thursday.

The statement added that the diplomats were invited by Ashkenazi "to express their solidarity and support" for Israel during its campaign against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

The visit comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure to de-escalate hostilities after 10 days of heavy fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The fighting, the worst Israeli-Palestinian violence since 2014, has killed least 230, including 65 children and 39 women, with 1,710 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not break the numbers down into fighters and civilians.

Hamas and militant group Islamic Jihad say at least 20 of their fighters have been killed, while Israel says the number is at least 130.

Some 58,000 Palestinians have fled their homes.

Twelve people in Israel, including a 5-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl and a soldier, have been killed.