Hamas calls AL for emergency meeting to debate Gaza violence

Xinhua, April 9, 2011

The de facto government of Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, on Friday called on the Arab League to hold an emergency meeting to debate the ongoing escalation of violence.

Hamas government said in a press statement emailed to reporters that the Arab League should immediately hold an emergency meeting to debate the Israeli escalation on the Gaza Strip and to halt it.

Violent confrontations between Israel and Hamas movement had flared since Thursday, with 10 Palestinians killed and 45 wounded, according to medical officials in the enclave.

"At the very first moment, we were trying to find a way to stop this aggression and stop targeting civilians, but the Zionist occupation continues to keep committing crimes against our people, " said Hamas statement.

The government of Hamas called on Arab states leaders and Arab nations "to rise their voices and increase their political and media moves to stop the aggression on the Gaza Strip."

Meanwhile, Adham Abu Selmeya, spokesman of Hamas government's medical services told a news conference at Shifa Hospital on Friday that Israel killed 10 Palestinians and wounded 45 others, most of them were civilians.

"The Israeli occupation had committed the worst crimes ever against innocent civilians, mainly women and children. They are violating the international laws and conventions and carry massacres against civilians," said Abu Selmeya.

He also said that the dead include two old men, a mother and her daughter, adding that among the 45 wounded, ten are in serious conditions.

He also referred to an Israeli tank shell attack on a farmer, who lost his legs and another tank shell fired at an ambulance belongs to the Red Crescent Society, where the ambulance was destroyed and two paramedics wounded.

Since Thursday, violence between Israel and the Palestinians had flared in the Gaza Strip, when Hamas militants fired a mortar shell that hit a school bus in south Israel. They also fired dozens of mortar shells at south Israel.

The Israeli army in return fired back, and carried out intensive airstrikes on various targets and on militants, with 10 people killed and 45 wounded.

However, Hamas accepted on Thursday night a ceasefire with Israel after agreeing with other factions and militant groups to halt rockets on Israel, but Israel said it was not officially informed about any ceasefire.