Israeli aggression in Gaza is a war crime, says Emir
Need for convening an Arab summit stressed

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani last night described the heinous Israeli aggression on the people of Gaza as a war crime as per international charters and laws.
In an address to the Arab nation broadcast on Al Jazeera Satellite Channel, the Emir said even if there were no other issues concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian cause the woes of Gazans should move the Arab leaders.
He said the Gaza Strip had been under an unjust siege for three years which blockaded even food and medicines for no reason except that the Palestinian people have been dealing seriously with democracy and have decided on their options.
The Emir said the calming agreement had not prevented Israel from continuing assassinations and incursions, adding that in the shadow of the calming Israel clamped a suffocating siege on the Strip which turned it into a detention camp and when it failed to break the will of the Palestinian people, today came the military aggression as a continuation of that siege.
HH Sheikh Hamad underlined the need for halting the aggression and for a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in a way guaranteeing an end to the siege which he described as inhumane and illegal.
He explained that Qatar had opted for just peace, saying this will not go in line with the continuation of the settlement policy, Judaisation of Jerusalem, siege and aggression on peaceful people.
The Emir added that we should pay any price to help our brethren in Gaza, stressing that it was not a grace but rather their right and our duty towards those who sacrifice their lives. “We should all co-operate so that the assistance will directly reach the people of Gaza to enhance their steadfastness and resistance, and to lift their morale.”
He said any ceasefire should be coupled with the lifting of siege and the opening of all crossings, stressing that all who call for a reciprocal ceasefire are equating culprit and the victim, and justifying the aggression retroactively.
He also underlined the need for the convening of an emergency Arab summit to adopt a position against the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
“We in Qatar, have called for the convening of an emergency Arab summit conference to take a decision vis-a-vis the Israeli aggression on Gaza,” the Emir said stressing that “moves by Arab peoples and a number of forces of peace in the world have proved that an emergency summit was the least things expected from us.”
“Our position was that we can do something but the problem does not lie in the summit but rather the will with which we come to the summit,” he said adding that “when we have that will, we can take decisions that would have an influence on the international arena and Israel.”
HH the Emir added that “some brothers have made efforts by going to the Security Council before the summit, but once again it has been proven that if we don’t have the will, the international community will not listen to us. We have to listen to our Arab community before the international community listen to us. Therefore I renew the call for an emergency Arab summit and I will leave this option to the Arab nation’s leaders.”
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks battled Hamas fighters in Gaza yesterday as the death toll from the offensive passed 510.
Israeli forces moved into the fringe of Gaza City while families fled or hid in cellars awaiting a second night of combat. The Israeli government fought off intense international pressure over its biggest military operation since its 2006 war in Lebanon.
At least 63 Palestinians were killed by tank shells or missiles fired from warplanes since the ground offensive was launched on Saturday night, Gaza medics said.
Columns of Israeli troops and tanks surrounded Gaza City and fighting was reported in outer districts. Fierce clashes were also reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya.
Explosions and machine gun fire rocked the territory of 1.5mn people. Hamas fighters fired mortar rounds and detonated roadside bombs in front of the advancing troops, witnesses said.
Moawiya Hassanein, head of Gaza medical emergency services, said the number of Palestinians killed since the Israeli operation was launched on December 27 was now 512, including 87 children.
Five members of the same family died when one tank shell hit their car near Gaza City, emergency services said.
Three ambulance workers were killed when they were hit by a missile as they helped wounded victims of the conflict, medics said.
Aid groups said the offensive had aggravated a humanitarian crisis for the population, who have no electricity, no water and now face dire food shortages. Hospitals were only running on backup generators.
International efforts to halt the conflict sought new impetus after the UN Security Council failed to agree a statement on the conflict, with the US giving strong backing to Israel.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancelled a planned trip to China this week because of the Gaza crisis.
A Russian presidential envoy and an EU ministerial delegation headed to the Middle East to make pleas for a ceasefire.
President Nicolas Sarkozy was also to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders today.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to call off the offensive in telephone talks with Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and a host of other foreign leaders, his office said.
The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) yesterday blasted the UN Security Council for failing to agree on a resolution condemning Israel’s attack on Gaza.
GCC Secretary General he Abdulrahman al-Attiyah in a statement also called on incoming US president Barack Obama to give priority to the Palestinian cause.
“This aggression is the expected and usual result of international silence toward Israeli arrogance,” he said in the statement. – Agencies