Africa

Africa

Egypt recalls ambassador to Israel in protest of military operation in Gaza

14 November 2012 23:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi decided Wednesday to recall his ambassador to Israel in protest against the Jewish country's military operation in Gaza, presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said, APA reports.

Meanwhile, Morsi also asked Egyptian Foreign Ministry to summon the Israeli ambassador in Cairo.

Israel announced Wednesday afternoon a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip and launched a series of airstrikes that killed several people including head of the armed wing of Islamic Hamas movement Ahmed al-Jaabari.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr condemned Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, calling for an "immediate halt" of such attacks.

Meanwhile, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, strongly condemned Israel's killing of al-Jaabari, Egyptian official news agency MENA reported.

The death of al-Jaabari, the highest-ranking Hamas member killed by Israel since Operation Cast Lead in early 2009, is expected to set off a fierce surge of violence between Israel and Gaza militant groups.