RIYADH, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Friday denounced Israel's call for Gaza City residents to move to the southern part of the Gaza Strip within 24 hours ahead of a possible ground offensive and condemned Israel's ongoing targeting of civilians.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry called on the international community to act swiftly to stop all military escalation against civilians and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
It also called upon the international community to provide the needed aid and medical supplies for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The ministry stressed that the deprivation of basic necessities for a decent life violates international humanitarian law.
It called for ending the Israeli siege on Gaza, evacuating injured civilians and advancing the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Arab Peace Initiative was launched in 2002 after it was drafted by Saudi Arabia and adopted by the Arab League.
The initiative calls for an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states, in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the areas it gained since 1967 and proper settlement to the issue of Palestinian refugees. ■
