Israel has played down international criticism of its massive bombardment of Gaza, saying the protests have been generally more measured than on previous occasions.

‘The tone of the criticism is moderate, restrained, more balanced, at least in the case of those countries that count,’ a senior government official said.

‘I’m not talking about Iran or other extremist states,’ he told AFP.

The conservative English-language Jerusalem Post hailed the response of the White House, and noted what it called the ‘evenhanded’ reaction from several European leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The outgoing administration of US President George W. Bush blamed Hamas ‘thugs’ for provoking the offensive by firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamist movement.

European nations have urged both sides to hold their fire.

But anti-Israel demonstrations were held in many countries as Muslim nations expressed outrage at the Israeli air attacks that have killed at least 318 Palestinians since Saturday.

The Jerusalem Post dismissed the angrier condemnations as coming ‘from those who make no pretence at being evenhanded.’

The Jewish state has conducted a major public relations drive to minimise adverse reactions from the international community.

The Jerusalem government blames Hamas, saying Israel has a duty to protect itself from the almost daily rocket attacks launched by Gaza militants.

Since Saturday alone, more than 250 rockets and mortar rounds have been fired from Gaza, killing two people, according to the Israeli army.

Israeli government officials have said again and again that any country would react in the same way if it came under rocket fire.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Monday recalled a conversation he had with Barack Obama during the US president-elect’s June 2008 visit to the Israeli city of Sderot that is regularly targeted by Gaza militants.

The minister quoted Obama as saying: ‘Had anyone fired rockets against my home while my two daughters were sleeping I would have done everything to stop him and I assume the Israelis would do the same thing.’

‘That is what Obama said and that is what we are doing,’ the Israeli minister said.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday made a point of addressing foreign diplomats in Sderot, just a few kilometres outside Gaza.

‘The role of the world leaders is to stand up and announce clearly: Hamas is responsible. Hamas is the ruler and Hamas put the population of Gaza in danger,’ she said.

On Monday, several explosions rocked the city as Gaza militants fired yet another volley of rockets.

‘I believe the international community must understand that after eight years of unending rocket-fire it is time that we should live normally,’ said Mayor David Buskila as medics treated residents for shock.

Israel has made it clear it is determined to reduce Palestinian militants’ firepower to a minimum and that the military operation will continue as long as needed.

At this stage, Israel is feeling no real pressure from the world to end the operation, the Haaretz daily said citing senior officials who expect the international community to sit relatively quietly on the sidelines as long as nothing goes wrong.

‘It is true the criticism is moderate until now and that Hamas as well as Israel are accused of hurting civilians,’ said Middle East expert Menahem Klein.’But a blunder (by the Israeli army) is possible. And that would change the tone towards Israel.’