Jordan King Urges Israel to Stop Targeting Civilians

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday urged Israel to stop targeting civilians in its deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip, speaking in a telephone call with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.

"The king and Ban discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and the monarch warned against their repercussions for the entire region and its stability," the palace said in a statement.

The king, whose country has a 1994 peace treaty with Israel, "stressed the need to stop targeting civilians and respect international laws", it added.

With the Israeli campaign now in its seventh day, more than 170 Palestinians have been killed and 1,230 wounded.

There have not been any Israeli fatalities.

Jordan's government has described the offensive as "barbaric" and "brutal".

Ban on Sunday urged Israel to scrap plans for a ground offensive against the Hamas-held enclave, saying that "too many" Palestinian civilians had been killed.

Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has demanded that the government close Israel's embassy in Amman and expel the ambassador.