Israeli attack on Gaza disgrace to humanity

The Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi stressed that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip is a disgrace to humanity, calling for an international position to end this “devastating aggression,” which affects children, women and the elderly, and mainly targets civilians. He called on the Palestinian people to unite in the face of aggression and activate the national reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo in May 2011. El-Arabi made the remarks at a press briefing Wednesday on the results of yesterday’s visit to Gaza, where he headed an Arab ministerial delegation that was accompanied by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in solidarity with the embattled Strip. Asked by QNA about a Palestinian request to hold an urgent Arab summit, el-Arabi said that summit will be extremely important, noting that three foreign ministers agreed to the request during Gaza visit and the summit will be held once 14 countries support it. He pointed to economy as one weapon Arab countries can use to force a change in their favor. “Arabs possessed that weapon in 1973 and thus a fortiori they should possess everything they want this year. The issue is primarily a question of will,” he said. Speaking about a possible meeting for the Arab chiefs of staff in anticipation of possible Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, el-Arabi said that Iraq called for such a meeting and the Arab League awaits responses. El-Arabi noted that the Arab League does not participate in the ceasefire talks. “They happen between Egyptian and Israeli apparatuses, and we are notified of developments in this regard.