The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) said Sunday that it strongly denounced the "barbaric" Israeli attack on the southern Lebanese village of Qana and the unabated Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

In a press statement, AL Secretary General Amr Moussa called for "an open international investigation into the Qana massacre along with other war crimes committed by Israel in Lebanon especially those against civilians."

Moussa hailed the steadfastness of the Lebanese people in facing the Israeli offensive while calling on the Arab states to take necessary steps toward showing full solidarity with Lebanon.

The AL chief said that it was necessary to offer urgent humanitarian relief aid to meet the increasing needs of the Lebanese refugees in light of the constant Israel attacks.

Earlier in the day, Israel Air Force launched a deadly airstrike on buildings in Qana, during which some 51 Lebanese civilians were killed.

Israel started its massive military offensive on July 12 right after Lebanon's Shiite military group Hezbollah abducted two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in a cross-border attack.

The Lebanese government said that over 600 Lebanese, most civilians, had been killed and hundreds of others wounded during the 19-day-old Hezbollah-Israel conflict.

Source: Xinhua