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Addis Ababa - The African Union on Tuesday condemned Israel's air raids on the Gaza Strip and urged the UN Security Council to "compel" Israel to declare a ceasefire. "The (AU) Commission strongly condemns the ongoing air raids on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 27 December," the bloc said in a statement.
"This massive and disproportionate attack constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further aggravate the suffering of the civilian population, which, as a result of the siege imposed by Israel, has been faced by shortages of food, medicine and fuel."
The body appealed to the UN Security Council and members of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet "to fully assume their responsibilities towards the civilians in the Gaza Strip by compelling Israel to an immediate ceasefire".
The AU also urged the world to step up efforts to provide medical and humanitarian aid to victims of the attacks.
Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza for a fourth day on Tuesday with tanks on standby as Israel vowed to wipe out the hardline Palestinian movement Hamas, which controls the territory.
A medical official in Gaza said at least 360 Palestinians, including more than 50 civilians, have been killed in the raids.
Since Saturday, Gaza militants have fired more than 250 rockets and mortar rounds into Israel, killing four people and wounding two dozen more.
- AFP
