Germany on Monday called on Hamas to stop its "rocket terror" against Israel and said events in recent days had shown why the European Union lists the Palestinian organization as a "terror" group.

Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her government, told reporters in Berlin "Germany stands by Israel's side in this situation."

Israel killed a senior Palestinian militant commander in Gaza on Monday in airstrikes which it said also targeted underground tunnels used by Hamas, and Islamist groups renewed rocket attacks on Israeli cities.

A spokeswoman for Berlin's foreign ministry said Qatar, which has "a very special relationship with Hamas," was urged to use its influence "to calm down the situation as quickly as possible."

Merkel's spokesman also referred to a demonstration in Berlin over the weekend which turned violent when pro-Palestinian supporters clashed with German police.

"The hatred against Jews and the anti-Semitism in recent days is a disgrace," said Seibert.