Jordan MPs Say Gaza Faces 'Most Atrocious Mass Killing'

The lower house of Jordan's parliament Tuesday condemned Israel's "brutal and racist aggression" on Gaza, describing the death of more than 590 Palestinians as "the most atrocious mass killing operation."

"Palestinians in Gaza are facing the the atrocious mass killing operation by the brutal racist Israeli occupation, which is violating international laws," the 150-member lower house said in a statement.

"The lower house warns against the international silence and its repercussions for Gaza, which is suffering from an ongoing a humanitarian disaster."

Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994, the second Arab state to do so after Egypt in 1979.

"We demand the international community immediately intervene to stop the Israeli aggression and escalation against the unarmed Palestinian people," the MPs said.

As the conflict entered its third week, Israel continues to pursue its campaign of shelling and air strikes on Gaza, with militants from Islamist movement Hamas hitting back with rocket fire and attacks on troops operating on the ground.

Israel has said Operation Protective Edge, launched on July 8, is to stamp out rocket fire from Gaza, and on July 17 it sent in ground troops to destroy cross-border tunnels used by Hamas militants to infiltrate southern Israel.

World powers have urged Hamas to accept an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and stop raining rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, demands the group has so far rejected.