An Israeli group on Monday appealed to the Supreme Court to freeze the operations of Israeli-controlled quarries in the West Bank, arguing that such "exploitation" violates the international law.

"Israeli mining activity in West Bank quarries is illegal and executed through brutal economic exploitation of occupied territory for the economic needs of the State of Israel, the occupying power," said the Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Rights group in a statement.

Naming out 11 companies and corporations that operate quarries in the West Bank, the group added that "according to international law, this kind of activity is a violation of occupation laws as well as of human rights laws and, in certain cases, might be defined as pillage."

In its petition to the Supreme Court, the group demanded that all mining activities be halted immediately and that no new mining permits be issued, and called for involvement of the army to enforce the ban and ensure an end to the "illegal mining across the West Bank."

Michael Sefarad, an attorney for the group, told local news service Ynet that an earlier appeal on the matter to the Civil Administration, an Israeli body in charge of nonmilitary issues in the West Bank, revealed that no record on the legality of the mines has ever been complied.

"The fact that no one ever reviewed the legal aspects of this matter is astounding, especially given the extent of the violations of international law. These are unprecedented acts, even considering the law standards set for the West Bank to begin with," said Sefarad.