Arab foreign ministers demand immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday demanded an immediate halt to ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

The ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

They urged all parties to exercise self-restraint in a resolution after the meeting.

It raised the alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions of the current escalation and underlined the need to work with the international community to launch an urgent and effective effort to prevent an expansion of violence in the region.

The ministers condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and all acts that contradict international and international humanitarian law, and emphasized the need to protect civilians and release civilians, prisoners and detainees.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
​​​​​​​
More than 2,300 people have been killed in the current bout of violence, including at least 1,100 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis.