Lebanese leading Shiite cleric denounces Israeli Gaza offensive

Lebanese leading Shiite cleric Hussein Fadlallah on Friday denounced Israel's ongoing military ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying the Jewish state was trying to "eliminate the Palestinian address."

"The racist Jewish army is still killing Palestinian youths, women, children and elders for fear that they fight against the occupation force," Fadlallah said.

The Shiite cleric also criticized the United States for being partial to Israel concerning the current Gaza crisis.

"The White House talks about the Zionist violence as a self- defense while it does not recognize that the Palestinian people have the right to defend their freedom and independence," he added.

Fadlallah also urged Arab and Islamic countries to support the Palestinians against the "Israeli plot", which he said "challenges the entire Arab world."

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, Vice President of the Lebanese Higher Shiite Council, also urged the Arab League to hold an urgent meeting to put an end to the Israeli military move.

"I call on Arabs and the United Nations to take a firm stand against the situation in the Palestinian territories," he added.

The Israeli army started a broad ground operation into the Gaza Strip on early Wednesday in a bid to rescue an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua