Egypt blasted the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers on Thursday, saying it was blaming the Palestinians for the recent upsurge in fighting and sparing Israel any criticism.

The Quartet, which includes Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the EU, urged an end to fighting Wednesday between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, calling on the Palestinian government to do everything necessary to restore law and order.

The group, which met in Berlin, also urged all Palestinians to immediately renounce all acts of violence and respect the cease-fire.

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Alaa el-Hadidy, a spokesman for Egypt's foreign ministry, described the Quartet's statement Thursday as unbalanced.

"This is tantamount to giving a green light to Israel to continue its
operations in the Palestinian territories," el-Hadidy said in a statement. "The credibility of the Quartet, as a neutral side, is now at stake."

A five-month truce in Gaza unraveled earlier this month when Hamas
began firing barrages of rockets into southern Israel, prompting Israel to respond with a series of air strikes. More than 50 Palestinians, most of them militants, and two Israeli civilians have been killed.

The four countries also called for the release of British Broadcasting Corp. journalist Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped in Gaza on March 12.

"How come the Quartet demands the immediate release of an Israeli soldier and does not condemn the kidnapping of the Palestinian lawmakers?" el-Hadidy said.

Israel has arrested dozens of senior Hamas officials, including lawmakers and government ministers, as part of the recent crackdown.

The group has seen renewed activity in recent months, though violence has continued. They plan to meet again in June, this time with Arab representatives in the Middle East. The Quartet produced the stalled road map peace plan that was to culminate with statehood for the Palestinians.