Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts

    QUITO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has condemned the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, calling for sanctions against the Jewish state's "crimes against humanity."

    "We condemn the massacre the Palestinian people are suffering, "Correa said Thursday in his second government report to the National Assembly.

    "We have requested a condemnation against Israel with pain, because we consider it a friend, but we still call for sanctions against its crimes against humanity," he added.

    Correa also said Israel has committed "inadmissible violations of international law ... and should not embargo food and medicines for civilians in the Gaza Strip."

    He said his government condemns "all kind of colonialist, neo-colonialist and imperialist practices" and called for the "democratization of the United Nations (UN)."

    However, Quito has not taken any diplomatic measures against Israel, while Bolivia and Venezuela have severed diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.