KUALA LUMPUR: It was unprecedented as members from both sides of the house closed ranks to speak in support of the motion against the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi set the ball rolling when he tabled the motion, which included 10 resolutions (see Page 5) that he wanted the House to support.

He said Israel's atrocities had resulted in considerable loss of lives in Gaza.

"At least 800 people have been killed in Gaza, 3,000 are wounded, and 15,000 more have become refugees after Israel launched the attack codenamed 'Cast Lead' on Dec 27.

"As Malaysians, we should be united and make a strong stand to the world about the inhumane actions by the Zionist regime on Palestinians, especially those in Gaza.
"The attacks by Israel have contravened international laws and such actions are deemed as a war crime as stated under the Fourth Schedule of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in wartime," Abdullah said to an almost-packed house.

The special session was also monitored by foreign missions, with 44 ambassadors and 32 charges d'affaires attending, except those of the United States and the United Kingdom.

Abdullah, whose half-hour speech was greeted by occasional table thumping, said the attack on Gaza was the worst ever by the Zionist regime on Palestinians since the area was occupied in 1967.

"Palestinian children have been killed by sniper and tank fire. Three schools administered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency have been hit this way. This resulted in hundreds of schoolchildren becoming casualties."

He spoke about the blockade by the Israeli navy, which "has resulted in relief being sent by sea being cut off. Malaysia is disappointed with the international community's failure to put an end to this".

Generally, he said, the international community was supportive of the Palestinians and their plight but some had put the blame in Gaza on Hamas.

"Hamas freedom fighters have been blamed for the conflict as they had launched the rockets towards Israel. But this is the action of those who have been cornered and can't even move within their own area."

He said the government had not given up in bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza and had instructed Malaysia's permanent representative in the United Nations to work with representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries to find a solution to the conflict.

On a personal level, Abdullah said he had sent messages to the United Nations secretary-general, and leaders of OIC and NAM countries, calling on them to help find a solution to the Middle-East conflict.

He told MPs he had called on Pope Benedict XVI and United States president-elect Barack Obama and former US president Jimmy Carter to mediate and bring peace to the Middle East.