Hariri Questions Timing of Israeli Assault on Gaza: It Aims to Shift Attention Away from Syria Revolt
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri slammed on Thursday the Israeli assault against the Gaza Strip, saying that it demonstrates the “hostile policy of Israel against the Palestinians and Arab people in general.”
He said in a statement: “The occurrence of the attack simultaneously with the ongoing Syrian revolution poses questions over its timing and is a sign of the clear intentions to thwart the revolt as much as possible.”
“The assault demonstrates Israel's insistence to cut any possibility to reactivate the peace process,” he added.
“It is seeking to maintain its control over all occupied territories and prevent all efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state,” continued the former premier.
“We renew our solidarity with our brothers in Gaza and call on Arab countries and all influential international ones to mobilize immediately to halt the Israeli assault and prevent its expansion,” stressed Hariri.
Israel launched a bruising air, naval and artillery offensive on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the most intense assault on the Palestinian territory in four years.
The operation was launched with the assassination of Hamas' top military commander, followed by an onslaught of airstrikes and shelling by tanks and naval gunboats.
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