The U.S. President Joe Biden, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, expressed his support for a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, the White House said.

The White House statement on the call did not refer to any response by Netanyahu to Biden's comment on a ceasefire.

"The President expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed U.S. engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end," the White House said.

Israel continued to pummel Gaza with air strikes on Monday and Hamas militants fired more rockets at Israeli cities.

At least 212 Palestinians have been killed, including 61 children and 36 women, in more than a week of fighting, according to Gaza health officials. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children.

Biden "encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians," the White House said.

"The President reiterated his firm support for Israel's right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks," it said.

The White House said the two leaders also "discussed progress in Israel's military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza."

The armed wing of Hamas promised to fire more rockets on Israel in return for any more Israeli strikes.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, has warned the conflict between Israel and Hamas is creating instability beyond Gaza, saying it is "in no one's interest to continue fighting."

Speaking to journalists while flying to Brussels for a NATO meeting, Milley urged both sides in the conflict to de-escalate, echoing comments from Biden calling for a ceasefire.

"There is a significant amount of casualties and I just think that that level of violence is destabilizing beyond the limited area of Gaza," Milley said late Wednesday, responding to a question about possible Iranian support for Hamas.

On Monday, Washington blocked a draft UN resolution calling for a halt to the violence for the third time despite Biden's comments.

"No one is denying the right of Israel to defend itself," Milley told reporters.

"But having said that, the level of violence that is there is at such a level that it is in no one's interest to continue fighting... Civilians are being killed. Children are being killed."

The violence between Hamas and Israel, which escalated after being sparked by unrest in the Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, is the worst since 2014.

Palestinian forces have fired around 3,350 rockets toward Israel, which has responded with relentless air strikes it says are targeting top Hamas commanders and military infrastructure.

"I believe that whatever the military objectives are out there, they need to be balanced against other consequences," Milley continued.

"In my view, de-escalation is the smart course of action at this point for all parties concerned."

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(With input from Reuters, AFP)