UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Thursday called upon Israel to stop the military offensive in Gaza and immediately and unconditionally pull its forces out of the territory, which Israel invaded in its ground operation two weeks ago.

    The appeal came as Baso Sangqu, South Africa's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, was speaking at an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly, which opened here on Thursday.

    "The South African government has expressed its view that Israeli airstrikes are a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law," he said. "The South African government has called on the Israeli government to stop military onslaught in Gaza and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces."

    "These Israeli airstrikes also represent an excessive and disproportionate use of force by Israel," he said. "In excess of 1,000 deaths, including approximately 350 children, and thousands more injured are unjustifiable."

    "We join the (UN) secretary-general in reiterating Israel's obligation to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law and condemn its excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians," he said.

    UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is in the Middle East to press for an early implementation of the Security Council resolution, which calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, adopted about a week ago, went unheeded by Israel and Hamas as the conflict moved into its 20th day on Thursday.

    "In this regard, we do not believe that Israel's right to self-defense entitles it to violate the rights of innocent civilians, particularly those civilians who have been living under forty years of illegal occupation," he said.

    "Israel cannot expect security for its people and political normalcy as long as it occupies Palestinian lands and continues its attempt to impose its permanent rule over the Palestinians by military force," he said.

    Meanwhile, the senior South African diplomat voiced his particular concerns with "the devastating humanitarian consequences of the occupation, the siege and the continuing attacks into Gaza."

    "This situation has been made worse by the escalating military attacks which have also targeted and killed United Nations humanitarian workers," he said. "Continuing attacks on the United Nations, its staff and other humanitarian agencies cannot be tolerated."