OIC calls for halting Israeli attacks on Gaza

By Alaa Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for an immediate halt to ongoing Israeli attacks in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

"OIC strongly condemns the aggression by Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip, which targets civilians and residential buildings," reads a statement issued by the Jeddah-based grouping.

It called for an immediate halt to Israel’s “brutal aggression” on the Palestinian territory.

OIC Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, for his part, held Israel responsible for the consequences of the current military escalation in Gaza, according to the statement.

He called on the international community to "intervene urgently to compel Israel to halt its unjust aggression and force it to respect international law."

At least six Palestinians were martyred in renewed Israeli attacks in Gaza since Monday. The Israeli army says the attacks came in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.

On Sunday, seven Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in an undercover Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip.

Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire during protests demanding the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral home in what is now Israel.