Hamas, Arab League ask the UN to stop Gaza escalation

"UN has to take procedures to stop Israeli offensive," Arab League sec.-gen. says; Hamas FM says he's in contact with int'l, regional bodies.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Arab League Reuters 311 (photo credit: Reuters/ Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Arab League Reuters 311
(photo credit: Reuters/ Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and said the United Nations must take action to end the attacks, in which 15 people have died.
"We issued a statement condemning the Israeli offensive on Gaza ... and Egyptian land," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil El-Araby told reporters in Cairo.
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"The United Nations has to take procedures to stop the Israeli offensive on Gaza," he said, without giving details of the measures he was urging the UN to take.
Also on Sunday, Hamas Foreign Minister Mohammed Awad said his government has been conducting talks with various contacts in international and regional organizations in an effort to stop Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.
According to the report, Awad has been in contact with the United Nations several times.
Awad told international actors that "Israel wants to send a clear message to the Palestinian people that it remains the strongest actor in the area." He continued, saying that it is the world's responsibility "to act immediately in order to stop the Israeli attacks on Gaza."
The Hamas official added, "Everybody understands that this path will not succeed in breaking the will of the Palestinians."
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