Abbas urges UN Security Council to convene and discuss situation in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN Security Council on Saturday to convene and discuss the Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

WAFA quoted presidential sources as saying that Abbas had sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council, demanding an urgent session to discuss the disastrous and dangerous situation in the Palestinian Territories.

Abbas' call came as Israeli troops continued its one of biggest military operation in Gaza, which started on Wednesday and has killed at least 42 Palestinians.

Backed by air cover, Israeli troops entered the border town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip and clashed with the Palestinian militants there.

Several air strikes, mostly in the north, killed about ten Palestinians overnight Saturday.

Meanwhile, Abbas also urged the Arab League to meet immediately in order to put an end to the Israeli offensive, according to a spokesman for Abbas.

The spokesman said that President Abbas had phoned the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa and asked the Arab League to push for a session of UN Security Council.

Source: Xinhua