Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil said Friday that his country will spare no efforts to end the Israeli "aggression" on the Gaza Strip and to restore a continuous ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.

"Egypt will pay everything to stop the aggression and achieve a lasting ceasefire," Qandil said. "We will be with the Palestinians until their independence... That's the only way for stability in the region."

Qandil made the remarks at a joint press conference with the de facto Hamas government Prime Minister Ismail Haneya during a brief but rare visit to the Gaza Strip, which has been under intensive Israeli aerial bombings.

Egypt has started and will continue its efforts to end the Israeli "aggression" on the Gaza Strip, Qandil told reporters, calling the international community to stop being silent and take action to end the violence.

He also called the Palestinian factions to unite since this is "the only way for Palestinian strength," asserting that Egypt will undertake its role in realizing the Palestinian internal reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Haneya, who appeared Friday in public for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli operation, said Qandil's visit is "historical" and indicates that Israel "can no longer do whatever it wants in Gaza."

Qandil arrived in Gaza Friday morning, and paid a visit to the Hamas cabinet headquarters and al-Shifa hospital in Gaza city, where some victims of the Israeli air strikes are being treated.

Israel announced Wednesday afternoon a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip and launched a series of air raids, including one that killed Hamas armed wing chief Ahmed al-Jabaari.

Israeli media reported earlier Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to halt airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for three hours during Qandil's visit, on condition that no rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel.

However, rockets fired from Gaza and air strikes by Israeli jets were reported right after Qandil's arrival.

Israeli media said at least 10 rockets were fired at Israel's Eshkol region soon after Qandil's entry, with no injuries reported. Meanwhile, witnesses said two Palestinians were killed Friday in northern Gaza in the latest Israeli air strikes.