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New York (ANTARA News/PTI) - The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has slammed Israel`s military offensive in Gaza last week that killed over 120 people, urging UN Security Council to act against Tel Aviv for posing a "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", a statement from the 56-member grouping released here said Tuesday.

The OIC, it said, was "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 errorising of civilian populations and other illegal actions of the occupying power including its targeting of ambulances and medical rescue teams have no justification whatsoever," it said.

The statement asked the Security Council to act in a "credible, timely and effective manner in fulfillment of its Charter responsibilities to address the threat to international peace and security."

"The Council cannot remain silent and marginalized as this crisis escalates, undermining international law, the sanctity of civilian life and the vision of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace enshrined in the Council`s own resolutions," it added.

However, the statement did not refer to the rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel which provoked retaliatory action by Tel Aviv.(*)

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