The international mediating group of the so-called "the quartet" of Middle East will meet in Berlin next week amid rising violence in the region, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

The quartet, which groups the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, will meet on May 30 in Berlin to discuss the burning issues in the Middle East, spokesman Jens Ploettner said.

The international community is "gravely concerned" about the latest violence in the Gaza Strip and in parts of Lebanon," he said.

"I expect a discussion of this situation will be an important part of the Quartet meeting, together with a coordination of efforts to bring about a de-escalation in the region," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel launched air strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation against rockets attacks by the extreme militants.

In northern Lebanon near a refugee camp, the fight between the army and the Fatah al-Islam militant group continues since Sunday, leaving thousands homeless.

Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has been working hard to revive the Quartet mediating efforts and the peace process in the Middle East.

The quartet have met in Egypt on May 4 on the sidelines of a conference on aid to Iraq.

Source: Xinhua