Bassil Denounces Israeli Offensive against Gaza, Demands Arab Action
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil condemned the Israeli aggression against the Gaza strip, demanding the Arabs to take a “unified” stance to end the Israeli hostility.
“Israel is benefiting from the international silence and the Arab incompetency by continuing and increasing its attack,” Bassil warned.
With the Israeli campaign in its seventh day, at least 172 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,230 wounded.
Bassil's statement came in light of a series of phone calls the minister carried out with Arab foreign ministers and Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.
“The verbal condemnation is no longer enough as the serious situation requires actual measures by the Arab League to support the Palestinian people and to press the international community to end its support to Israel.”
Bassil tasked Lebanon's permanent ambassador to the Arab League Khaled Ziadeh with attending a meeting for the Arab League foreign ministers instead of him.
The minister is currently in Brazil and will not make it in time for the meeting, which will be held later Monday.
The Arab League meeting comes amid intense international efforts to end the conflict, and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seeking U.N. intervention.
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