UNITED NATIONS, October 24. /TASS/. The military operation against the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip will not ensure Israel's security and must be stopped, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki has told the UN Security Council.

"We are here to push for an end to this barbaric aggression that claims hundreds of lives every day," al-Maliki said in an open debate on the military escalation in the Middle East. "The military operation against the defenseless people of Gaza must stop immediately. This is our collective human duty."

Al-Maliki condemned the UN Security Council's failure to establish a ceasefire.

"How many more Palestinians are to die for the Security Council to take a decision that would put an end to Israel's impunity and occupation of our lands?" he pointed out. "Delays in the delivery of food, medicine and fuel to Gaza spells death for the residents of Gaza."