The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Palestinian ruling party, slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday for the latter's comment on Palestinian militants' rocket attacks on Israel.

"We condemn the statements issued by Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas," Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, said, adding that Abbas' statements "discharged the Zionist occupation from their crime committed against innocent civilians."

He also asked the president to apologize for his statements.

Following Israeli air raid on northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun this morning which killed 19 civilians, Abbas urged the Palestinian militants to stop their homemade rocket attacks against Israel, saying the attacks are "vanity job that gives Israel excuse to target civilians."

Early Wednesday morning, Israeli tank shells struck houses in the Beit Hanoun, killing 19 Palestinians, 11 of them were from one family.

The bombardment that caused civilian casualties drew criticism from Hamas, Abbas' Fatah and some Arab countries.

Hamas also announced the suspension of talks on forming a national unity government in the wake of the bombardment.

Israeli military claimed after the incident that the four shells landed on the houses by mistake.

The Israeli forces withdrew from northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun two days ago after the completion of a six-day military operation in northern Gaza, code-named "Autumn Clouds."

A total of 63 Palestinians were killed in Operation Autumn Clouds which the Israeli army said it came to crush rocket attacks from the area against the Jewish state.

Source: Xinhua