Muslim countries called on Thursday for the U.N.'s top human rights body to condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza, and said the Jewish state is committing war crimes through the collective punishment of Palestinians.

Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), presented a draft resolution.

The text, which was also sponsored by the League of Arab States, demands an immediate halt to Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip as well as the firing of rockets by Palestinian fighters into southern Israel.

It condemns persistent Israeli military attacks on Gaza and says Israel is "inflicting collective punishment against the civilian population, which constitutes a war crime."

"Israel has resorted to use of disproportionate force, deliberate destruction of infrastructure and killing of civilians," Pakistan's ambassador Masood Khan told the U.N. Human Rights Council.

He said that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in less than one year, including 125 in the last week.

Israeli forces withdrew from northern Gaza on Monday but sporadic fighting has persisted.

The Human Rights Council, whose 47 members are holding a four-week session to examine violations worldwide, is expected to adopt the resolution later on Thursday, diplomats said.

Since being set up in June 2006, the Council has rebuked Israel three times for abuses in the Palestinian territories.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 07 Mart 2008, 11:26