CAIRO, Egypt: Israel's pre-dawn attack on Beit Hanoun in north Gaza which left 20 Palestinians including eight children martyred Wednesday has been slammed by Arabs and Muslims as an "ugly massacre".

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Ghait said he feels "extreme shock at this immoral and inhuman act" and urged the international community "to assume its responsibilities by condemning the criminal Israeli action."

Strongly condemning the barbaric Israeli aggression and the savage massacres committed in Beit Hanoun, Syria called on Palestinians to close national ranks in order to confront Israel's state terrorism.

Jordan's King Abdullah contacted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas "denouncing the ugly crimes committed by the Israeli forces against civilians, including children, in Beit Hanoun."

Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab countries that have peace treaties with Israel.

The Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Conference called on the United Nations to act immediately to stop the Israeli aggression "and take measures to ensure the protection of the Palestinians from Israel's state terrorism."