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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan condemned the Israeli land offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday, as well as the unjustified escalation against the Palestinians in the blockaded enclave.

State Minister for Media Affairs and Government Spokesman Mohammad Momani said the government, under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II, is closely following up the situation in Gaza.

He added that Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour chaired a meeting of concerned ministers and security agencies to discuss the Israeli escalation and steps needed to be taken.

Jordan, Momani said, is exerting intensive diplomatic efforts within the UN Security Council and is making contacts with Arab and friendly countries to put an end to Israeli aggression.

The Israeli offensive, he added, is a form of collective punishment that violates international humanitarian law and will drag the region into violence and destruction.

Momani held Israel, as an occupying power, fully responsible for the practices of the Israeli occupation forces that violate international law, UN resolutions and the Geneva conventions.

He urged the international community to shoulder its responsibilities, face the dangerous Israeli escalation, and put and end to it, as it threatens security and stability in the Middle East.

The minister also called for the protection of civilians and for a just and permanent peace in the region through bringing the Palestinians and Israelis back to the negotiating table based upon UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

*Petra