It is imperative for the international community to intervene and put an end to the acts of "aggression" committed by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people, foreign ministers from across the wider Arab region agreed on Wednesday.

Addressing an emergency, ministerial-level Arab League session in the Egyptian capital, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita emphasized that the "legitimate rights" of the Palestinians should not be undermined, warning of "grave repercussions" if Middle east conflict morphs into a "religious war." He castigated the Israeli forces for their "systemic violations" in the holy city of Jerusalem and fabled Al-Aqsa mosque, calling on the international community to ratchet up efforts aiming put a ceasefire in place in the Gaza Strip, subsequently delivering aid to the Palestinian people.

Echoing the Moroccan minister's sentiments, his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf underlined the North African nation's "unwavering support" for the Palestinian people, condemning in strongest terms the "criminal acts" committed against them.

The status quo, besides throwing a potential two-state solution to the Middle East conflict in limbo, also obliges the Arab world and the international community alike to "act immediately" and put an end to the violence, he added.

Warning of a potential slip into "greater upheaval" in the region, the Cairo-based bloc's chief Ahmed AbulGheit said any escalation in the violence between Israeli forces and Palestinian group Hamas could push the region to the precipice of catastrophe.

The Palestinians are the "victims of a massacre," perpetrated by Israeli forces, he reiterated, citing such acts as the "root cause" of the dangerous wave of violence that has gripped the region.

Source: Kuwait News Agency