New York: Slamming Israel for carrying out the deadly air strikes on the Gaza strip, a US-based Islamic advocacy group has charged that the Jewish state "massacred" more than 225 people with weapons "funded by the American tax payers."

In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticised the Bush administration for giving "public green light" to Israeli military for carrying out such attacks.

"It must be clear by now that the only future offered to the Palestinian people by the outgoing administration was one of perpetual subjugation and humiliation at the hands of the Israeli occupiers," the advocacy group said.

Warning that America's "timid response" to this "tragic episode" will only serve to fuel anti-American sentiments in the Muslim world, the CAIR called on the incoming Obama administration to change the "one-sided Middle East" policy.

It also called on the world leaders to take "direct action" to end Israel's "counter-productive and wildly disproportionate" attacks and to end humanitarian siege of Gaza which, it said, led to breakdown of ceasefire.

The advocacy group noted that the European Union, Russia, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and other international bodies are all urging Israel to end it attacks.
Source : PTI