OIC voices concern at Israeli escalation in Palestinian territory

Islamabad: Organization of Islamic Corporation on Sunday expressed deep concern on dangerous Israeli escalation in Occupied Palestinian territory.

The General Secretariat in a statement said that Israel's impunity has encouraged it to persist in its policy which in their entirety amount to war crime against humanity.

The statement stressed for providing international protection for Palestinian people and sponsoring a credible political process to establish an independence sovereign Palestinian State with East Al-Qudus as its capital on the line of 1967 borders.

OIC said achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on vision of two state solutions as per international legitimacy must be pursued.

Over 300 Palestinians have been martyred in unabated Israeli air strikes on Gaza strip since yesterday.

Palestinian health officials said 20 children were among at least 313 civilians martyred.

They said nearly 2,000 people were wounded.

Israeli air strikes battered Gaza overnight smashing buildings, and the houses in dense populated areas.

Jets resumed strikes on Gaza in the morning and troops were conducting clearing operations around the blockaded enclave.

The West Bank has also seen stepped-up Israeli raids,  and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a speech said the assault that began in Gaza would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Palestinians are living in Gaza under an Israeli blockade for 16 years.

Meanwhile, fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian Resistance Forces continued near Gaza and occupied West Bank territories.

Accoring to the BBC, at least 500 Israelis have been killed and dozens of Israelis are being held hostage.

And in Egypt, two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian tour guide were shot dead in Alexandria.

Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire today.

Hezbollah in a statement said it has launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

A Lebanese security source told Reuters that a tent set up by Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms has been hit.