Canada gives 'firm' support for Israeli attack on Gaza

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has voiced his "unequivocal" support for Israel in its recent onslaught on Gaza Strip on Sunday, saying the Jewish state is acting upon its "right of defense."

"The indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel are terrorist acts," Harper said in Sunday's written statement on the Israeli attacks that killed at least 166 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,120 others - mostly civilians - over the last week.

The Canadian prime minister blamed Hamas for "deliberately using human shields" in the conflict that has threatened to turn into a full-blown conflict between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group.

"The failure of the international community to condemn these reprehensible actions (by Hamas) will encourage these terrorists to continue their appalling actions. Canada calls on its allies and partners to recognize that these terrorist acts are unacceptable and that solidarity with Israel is the best way of stopping the conflict," said Harper.

He maintained that Canada is "unequivocally" behind Israel, asserting it is a right of self-defense to take action "against terrorist attacks." "We urge Hamas to immediately cease their indiscriminate attacks on innocent Israeli civilians," he added.

Harper also reiterates its call for the Palestinian government to "disarm Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups operating in Gaza, including the Iranian proxy, Palestinian Islamic Jihad."

Israeli warplanes have been heavily pounding the Gaza Strip over the week as part of the military offensive-dubbed "Operation Protective Edge" - allegedly launched in response to rocket fire from the embattled coastal enclave.

However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed on Thursday that at least 681 rockets had been fired at Israel from Gaza since 7 June. No Israeli fatalities have been reported so far.