RAMALLAH, December 29, 2008 (WAFA)- Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) called upon the international community to meet its legal responsibilities toward the Gaza Strip.

In a press release issued Sunday, the PRCS expressed its deep concern about the Israeli statements affirming that the military operation in the Gaza Strip will continue and be expanded. “If this happens”, the press release said, the Gaza strip will witness more causalities and mass destruction of property and infrastructure in the light of the Israeli refrain from abiding to the international humanitarian law which forbids targeting civilians and their properties and forbids the excessive use of force.

The intensive Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip continue for the third day, leading to more than 300 martyrs and 1000 casualties 200 of which are seriously wounded. The suffering has increased tremendously from the horror of shelling and continuous blockade for the last few months, resulting in a shortage of fuel, medicine and food.

The suffering of the wounded has been aggravated due to the difficulty of immediate evacuation from the scene and the lack of appropriate medical treatment.

The indiscriminate attacks resulted in tremendous material loss in hospitals, and emergency centers, in addition to the damage of three vehicles including an ambulance.

PRCS warned of the seriousness of what's happing and the consequences of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and called upon the international community to meet its legal responsibilities to take all required measures to force Israel to adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law, in particular those related to the protection of civilians.