By Xinhua
Cairo : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday called on Israel to stop its continued military operations and siege on the Gaza Strip that have claimed lives of dozens of Palestinians, the official MENA news agency reported.
In a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Mubarak warned against the deteriorating humanitarian situation due to the siege imposed on Gaza.
On Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and the Palestinian Hamas movement discussed developments in Gaza after Israel cut fuel supplies, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki was quoted as saying.
During a telephone conversation with Syria-based Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas’ political office, Abul Gheit briefed the contact she has made with the international community to urge Israel to end the tragedy in Gaza immediately, the spokesman said.
Abul Gheit also met with visiting Palestinian presidential envoy Nabil Shaath on Sunday on joint efforts to alleviate the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The main power station that supplies Gaza electricity completely stopped on Sunday night due to fuel shortage. Israel on Thursday decided to tightened a closure that has been imposed on Gaza since mid June, when Hamas took control of the coastal strip. All crossings leading to Gaza have been closed down.
Since Thursday, Israel has been barring fuels and basic food products from reaching the Gaza Strip, in retaliation to ongoing makeshift rocket attacks carried out by Palestinian militants from Gaza against Israel.
In addition, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza on Tuesday.