TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday that Iran has called on world states, Arab and Islamic countries in particular, to cut their diplomatic ties with Israel to show their support for Palestinians.

    Mottaki made the remarks on the sidelines of a bell-ringing ceremony at one of Tehran's schools held as a symbolic move to show support of Iranian students for their fellow students in GazaStrip, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Referring to the expulsion of Israel's ambassadors from Mauritania and Venezuela, Mottaki said other countries could do likewise as a pressure lever on Israel.

    A headquarters has been established at Iran's Foreign Ministry to coordinate measures made by various Iranian ministries and organizations, including Ministry of Health and the Red Crescent Society, to support and help the people of Gaza, Mottaki said.

    Palestinian medics said Monday that over 900 people had been killed and more than 4,100 others wounded, around half of them are civilians, since the beginning of Israel's military offensive on Gaza Strip on Dec. 27.