More than 250,000 angry Palestinians attended on Tuesday the funeral of those who were killed Monday night in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza City including Sheikh Salah Shehada, leader of the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and 14 other civilians (eight children). The world is shocked by Israeli atrocity.
From Israeli closest ally US to China, UK, Russia as well as Arab world all condemned Israeli air strike, which was precisely conducted at a time when Israeli and Palestinian official representative resumed their dialogue on security issues. However they called on both sides to show restraint and avoid the use of force, which could only hand the initiative to extremists and increased mutual suspicions.
China Condemns Israeli Air Attack
China is shocked and strongly condemns the Israeli air attack on a Palestinian neighborhood in Gaza City that caused large numbers of civilian deaths and injuries, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing on Tuesday.
In response to a question from the press, Kong said China again called on the Israeli and Palestinian sides to stop all forms of violence immediately, and avoid further deterioration of the Middle East situation.
US Condemns Israeli Attack in Gaza
US President George W. Bush on Tuesday denounced an air strike by Israel on an apartment building in the Gaza Strip, which killed 15 Palestinians, including nine children, the White House said.
"This heavy-handed action does not contribute to peace," spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
He said the US will convey the message to Israeli authorities and regrets the loss of innocent life.
The spokesman rejected comparisons between the Israeli missile strike and American attacks in Afghanistan, which have so far claimed civilian lives estimated at nearly 500 by the Afghan government.
Arab League Chief Condemns Israeli Air Strikes
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Tuesday condemned Israeli air strikes on a neighborhood in Gaza City overnight.
"The attacks represent a real challenge to recent Quartet's discussions aimed at restoring a political track in the region as well as Arab efforts to realize peace," Moussa told reporters.
He also called on the United Nations Security Council to provide an international protection for the Palestinians who are under an Israeli occupation
UK Says Gaza Warplane Attack 'Unacceptable'
Britain said on Tuesday that Israel's Monday night air strike on Gaza City, which caused serious casualties among civilians, was "unacceptable and counterproductive".
"The action taken last night which resulted in the deaths of eight children, among others, in a missile attack on Gaza is unacceptable and counterproductive. We extend our sympathy to the families of the children killed," a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement.
"With our partners in the international community, we will continue to work towards a two-state solution that brings a peace based on security for Israel and recognizes the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," the spokesman said.
Moscow Expresses Concerns Over Israeli Missile Attack
Russia Tuesday expressed serious concerns over an Israeli missile attack that killed at least 12 Palestinians, including Salakh Sakhad, the commander of the military wing of the militant group Hamas.
"Moscow is seriously concerned about Israel's air strike at a residential area in Gaza on Monday, as a result of which 12 people were killed, including several women and children, and over 100 suffered injuries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenkosaid in a statement.
The action was precisely conducted at a time when Israeli and Palestinian official representative resumed their dialogue on security issues, Yakovenko said.
Russia called on both sides to show restraint and avoid the use of force, which could only hand the initiative to extremists and increased mutual suspicions, the statement said.
Egypt Denounces Israeli Air Strikes As War Crime
Egypt on Tuesday denounced Israeli overnight air strikes on an overcrowded neighborhood in Gaza City as a "war crime".
"It is absolutely a war crime as the attacks clearly target innocent civilians," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters.
He said that "shelling civilians and killing women, men and children is a new evidence of aggressive Israeli policies."
"Strangely enough, the attacks came at a time when reports said that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and (the Islamic Resistance Movement) Hamas were ready to declare an agreement on halting all attacks on the Israelis that might harm civilians," Maher said.
(Edited by Zheng Guihong for china.org.cn July 24, 2002)
