UNITED NATIONS, March 5: The Islamic Conference on Tuesday condemned the “incessant military onslaught by Israel against innocent, defenceless and besieged Palestinian civilian population” in the occupied palestinian territory, in particular the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the OIC asked the UN Security Council, in particular, to act in a credible, timely and effective manner in fulfilment of its Charter responsibilities to address the threat to international peace and security.

The excessive and disproportionate use of force by the occupying power, including strikes by warplanes and ground artillery, and targeted extra-judicial killings, constitute grave breaches of international law including humanitarian and human rights law.

The OIC is deeply grieved and distressed at the heavy civilian causalities including women, children and infants, and the trauma being endured by the Palestinian people in the face of widespread destruction. This wanton use of force, collective punishment and terrorising of civilian populations and other illegal actions of the occupying power including its targeting of ambulances and medical rescue teams have no justification whatsoever.

The OIC shares the international concern over further deterioration of the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip caused by this recent military escalation by Israel and its continuing illegal siege of the Gaza in defiance of the world opinion.

The OIC also condemned the illegal Israeli action in the West Bank including, inter alia the killing of innocent civilians amongst them children, extrajudicial assassinations and the building of settlements and the wall.