KUALA LUMPUR, July 28: Foreign ministers of five Muslim countries on Friday strongly condemned Israel’s indiscriminate and excessive use of force against innocent civilians and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The foreign ministers of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan met here at the Malaysian capital to discuss the “grave and deteriorating situation” and unabated violence in The Occupied’ Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.

In a joint statement released at the end of the meeting the ministers “strongly condemned Israel’s military actions, indiscriminate and excessive use of force that have resulted in injury and death of innocent civilians and the destruction of civilian property and infrastructure.”

They condemned the bombing by Israel over a United Nations post at the town of Khiam in Southern Lebanon, causing death of four United Nations military observers.

They emphasised that all parties to the conflict must respect the neutrality of United Nations peacekeepers and ensure their safety.

The FMs also urged the United Nations to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of the incident.

The ministers called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and urged the international community and the United Nations Security Council to get all parties in the conflict to adhere to the ceasefire and ultimately work towards a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the region.

They expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, and called upon the international community to extend urgent humanitarian end relief assistance.

The foreign ministers welcomed Malaysia’s initiative to convene the emergency meeting of the OIC Executive Committee and Friends of the Chairman of the 10th Islamic Summit Conference on August 3 in Kuala Lumpur.—APP