The Arab League Parliament has convened an extraordinary meeting in Cairo to express solidarity with the Palestinians and condemn Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Those in attendance at the meeting Wednesday wore traditional Palestinian black-and-white scarves in a sign of support.

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said: "The truth is becoming crystal clear now with all its ugliness and hideousness: we are before a colonizing people that lives under an apartheid state and an occupation government that systematically practices ethnic cleansing.''

Others also criticized Israel, with Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al-Asoumi accusing Israel of "war crimes and of full-fledged crimes against humanity.''

In a televised speech, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed Arab delegates, calling Jerusalem "the essence of the Palestinian national identity.''

He said: 'Without it, there will be no peace, no security, no stability and no agreement.