Birmingham MP Richard Burden has led condemnation of Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, as the situation in the Middle East continued to deteriorate.

He is chairman of the Britain-Palestine All-Party Group, which includes MPs sympathetic to the Palestinians.

Mr Burden (Lab Northfield) called on Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, to make an urgent statement on Britain's response to the situation. He also demanded a full Commons debate.

It came as the Israeli invasion of Gaza continued, following the capture of an Israeli soldier.

Israeli troops also detained eight Palestinian ministers and dozens of officials from the ruling Hamas group in raids across the West Bank. Much of Gaza has been left without electricity and running water after a power plant was hit by Israeli air strikes, while several bridges were also destroyed.

Mr Burden said: "The use of such extreme force and the destruction of power stations supplying schools and hospitals, as well as the main water pipe feeding refugee camps is appalling and violates international law.

"Today's news of the abduction by Israel of over 20 democratically elected Parliamentarians only makes matters worse.

"These actions are likely to only lead to further bloodshed and misery on both sides."

He added: "The response by Israel to the captured soldier is dangerous, disproportionate and will only serve to worsen the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region."

He said the prospects for peace in the region had actually looked good earlier in the week, because the Islamic party Hamas, which still refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist and runs the Palestinian government, was starting to form agreements with Fatah, the organisation once led by Yasser Arafat which favours a negotiated settlement.

"It goes without saying that the Israeli Corporal should be released unharmed. All lives are equally precious, whether Israeli or Palestinian."