Despite "serious obstacles to the achievement of a comprehensive ceasefire in the immediate future," there was an urgent need to achieve some form of "cessation of hostilities," said Vijay Nambiar, who had been dispatched by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Middle East late last week to explore ways of defusing the crisis in the region.

A truce is "essential so that the captives are protected and released, humanitarian access is assured, civilian casualties are dramatically reduced, and the political space is opened to negotiate a full and durable ceasefire," he told the 15-member council.

The UN mediator also urged the Israeli government to extend its full cooperation by immediately ensuring humanitarian access to those in need.

During the debate, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian observer to the UN, cited the Palestinian death toll in the past three weeks which had risen to over 100 people, and called on the international community to condemn the "unlawful acts" of Israel and "compel the occupying Power to cease such grave breaches and to abide by its obligations under international law."

He also urged the Security Council to call for the "immediate cessation of hostilities" and the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman rejected the Palestinian delegate's accusations, instead laying blame on the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and rocket attacks by Hamas for the ongoing conflict.

He also accused Syria and Iran of sponsoring terrorism and called on the international community to disarm Hezbollah and secure the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

U.S. envoy John Bolton reiterated a call for the full implementation of resolution 1559, which called for the withdrawal of foreign troops in Lebanon and the disarming of militia groups including Hezbollah, and the full extension of Lebanon's authority over all of its territory.

The United State was studying several proposals on how best to secure implementation of resolution 1559, including the insertion of an international stabilization force, Bolton said.

Liu Zhenmin, the deputy permanent representative of the Chinese mission, called on all parties involved in the conflict to cease hostilities, exercise maximum restraint and prevent further deterioration of the situation.

"The international community should step up good offices to create the conditions for a ceasefire," he stressed.

He appreciated the secretary-general's efforts in defusing the crisis and called on the council to react as soon as possible to diffuse the crisis in the Middle East, so as to discharge its special responsibility.

More than 40 speakers were due to take the floor in the day-long debate that came one day after Annan urged the council to take "firm action" toward ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East.

Annan proposed on Thursday a package of actions aimed at achieving a lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, including a call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, the release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers and the convening of an international conference.