STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: The office of the UN's Mideast envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, said Monday that efforts were underway "to ensure that Gaza steps back from the brink."

It called for an end to rocket fire, and for restraint "by all", ABC News reports.

Palestinians militants fired dozens of rockets and mortar shells at southern Israel on Monday, as the Israeli military responded with a wave of airstrikes. The violence was triggered by a botched Israeli military raid in Gaza on Sunday in which seven Palestinian militants and an Israeli officer were killed.

An Israeli airstrike has hit Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station in the Gaza Strip.

The station went off the air after the airstrike. Minutes earlier, it had halted its programming and was broadcasting a still image of its logo after the building was hit by a warning missile.

Shortly after, three loud explosions were heard and the screen turned black.

Witnesses say the blast destroyed the entire building, and explosions illuminated the night sky.

Workers evacuated the building after the warning shots. It was not clear whether there were any casualties.