Israel Condemned Over Gaza

The press devoted extensive coverage to Syria’s reaction to the Gaza crisis this week. Syria called on the international community to condemn Israel for its “invasion and crimes” in Gaza, the government-backed Thawra newspaper reported on January 25.



Faisal al-Hamawi, the Syrian permanent envoy to the United Nations, backed the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution condemning Israel over Gaza. The 47-member committee passed the resolution on January 24.



Earlier in the week, Syria accused Israel of conducting a “massacre” in Gaza, according to the Communist Party’s newspaper Kassioun.



Syrian foreign minister Waleed al-Muallem had several phone conversations with his counterparts in Muslim, Arab and European to discuss developments in Gaza, Kassioun reported on January 22.



A source in the foreign ministry denounced the Israeli embargo on Gaza, warning that it would result in a humanitarian crisis. The source accused Israel of violating human rights, and said Palestinians must remain united despite the difficulties facing them.



Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza this week following increased rocket attacks. Thousands of Palestinians residents streamed into Egypt as food, fuel and electricity grew scarce.