By Rania Abu Shamala
Riyadh (AA) - A statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement pointed out the importance of joint international efforts to put a stop to Israel's practice of 'collective punishment,' which involves depriving residents of the Gaza Strip of basic necessities.
It noted that Israeli attacks and the forced displacement of residents in the Gaza Strip constitute "clear violations of international humanitarian law and international agreements."
The GCC urged the international community to swiftly and effectively intervene to halt attacks on Gaza, work toward a political solution to the crisis and uphold the legitimate rights of Palestinians to establish their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders.
One week ago, 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 last Saturday 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 the operation 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 then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
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.