Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit Wednesday condemned Israel's killing of 19 Palestinian civilians in an artillery strike in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Abul Gheit expressed shock over the Israeli massacre committed in Beit Hanoun at Wednesday dawn that claimed lives of 19 Palestinians, mostly women and children, said the statement.

Terming the killing "carnage," Abul Gheit condemned it as an unethical and brutal act that flagrantly violated international law and conventions.

He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims, calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibility in preserving peace and security.

"As I said more than once these practices do not provide security or peace and can not be justified," he said in the statement.

Urging Israel to go back to the negotiating table with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the top diplomat said that this was the only path to security.

Early Wednesday morning, Israeli tank shells struck houses in the Beit Hanoun, killing 19 Palestinians, including eight children and four women, and wounding dozens of others.

The witnesses said that most of the victims were sleeping when the 15-minute barrage of shells first hit.

Source: Xinhua