The Embassy of Palestine in Ghana called on the international community to support the call for the protection of the people of Palestine by an international force under the auspices of the United Nations.

"It is time for the United States of America to rethink its position as the main backer of Israel and to stop using its veto against the establishment of such a force," the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy warned that the situation in Palestine is worsening by the minute. "If the international community fails to take immediate steps to end the blatant aggression and acts of genocide, the world will sooner than later have to confront the destruction of the very essence of humanity."

The statement said the destruction of Palestinian homes, schools, farms and science centres, technology and arts by Israeli tanks and bulldozers has become a daily occurrence.

"Children, women and the elderly have not been spared the ferocity of the bullets which pour out of Israeli guns.

"(Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon's government has not even had the decency to spare nurseries, markets and religious places."

The statement said as a result of the Israeli aggression, four million Palestinians have been compelled to live in exile, thousands have died, hundreds of thousands have been injured and millions face economic collapse.

It said Israeli charges of terrorism against the Palestinian people and its demand for assurances of security is nothing but a smokescreen.

The embassy praised Ghana for its contributions to the search for peace in the Middle East and support for the Palestinian people.