A UN human rights expert on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel's military attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza strip and urged immediate UN Security Council actions to stop Israel's operations.

John Dugard, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Occupied Palestinian Territories, said Israeli military operations in Gaza since June have resulted in more than 300 deaths, including many civilians, and over 1,000 injuries.

The expert also accused Israel of large-scale devastation of public facilities and private homes, destroying Palestinian farms, disrupting hospitals and schools, and denying people access to electricity, water and food.

"This brutal collective punishment of a people, not a government, has passed largely unnoticed by the international community," Dugard, a South African lawyer, said in a statement.

He sharply criticized the major powers involved in Middle East peace efforts for failing to take action against the Israeli operation launched in June.

"The Quartet, comprising the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and the Russian Federation, has done little to halt Israel's attacks."

Dugard also expressed disappointment that the Security Council had not taken any action to stop Israel's attacks.

"Worse still, the Security Council has failed to adopt any resolution on the subject or attempt to restore peace to the region. The time has come for urgent action on the part of the Security Council," he added.

Dugard made the statement after 18 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed Wednesday when their homes were shelled by the Israeli army.

The deadly strike has drawn condemnation across Europe and the Middle East.

Source: Xinhua