JERUSALEM, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Saturday stepped up public relations efforts to garner international support for its military operations in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

    Following simultaneous air strikes that has killed over 190 in the Palestinian enclave since Saturday morning, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni instructed diplomats stationed abroad to immediately mount public relations campaigns, focusing on local media and public officials, reported local daily Ha'aretz.

    In a public message to international media, Livni said Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 to give peace a chance, but Hamas overrun it, leaving the Jewish state with "no other option but to strike" in order to protect its citizens.

    Israel would continue to provide humanitarian aid in order to minimize the damage to the civilians, added Livni, stressing that Hamas should be held responsible for both the artillery attacks against Israel and Israel's military response.

    The vice premier is also scheduled to hold a series of talks with foreign officials in the coming days, in which she would explain the rationale for the latest military maneuvers in the coastal area, added the newspaper.

    "Israel is doing what it should be doing. Hamas interpreted our behavior incorrectly, and should have known that Israel would not stay silent in case of fire," local news service Ynet quoted Livnias telling U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

    Following such efforts, a broadcast outlet for international media is to be opened on Sunday in Sderot, a southern town frequented by artillery attacks from the Gaza Strip.