Lebanon on Thursday denounced an ongoing Israeli massive ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, slamming it as "a violation of humanitarian rights."

The Lebanese government also called for "an international, Arab and Islamic move" to support the Palestinian people and reject "Israel's terrorist strategy."

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said that he had contacted Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, who will return soon to the league's Cairo headquarters from the United States to prepare for a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss ways to have the UN Security Council tackle the situation in Gaza.

"I also contacted (European Union foreign policy chief) Javier Solana and discussed the issue with him," Lahoud said. "I intend to call UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well."

During the weekly cabinet meeting held earlier on Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also denounced the Israeli military operation, saying that he supported Arab and international calls to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army on Thursday pressed ahead a broad ground operation into the Gaza Strip in a bid to rescue an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants on Sunday.

The operation, launched on early Wednesday, is the first of its kind since Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip nearly a year ago after 38 years of occupation.

Source: Xinhua