Hamas rejects AI accusation

PALESTINE: Hamas on Monday rejected an Amnesty International report that accused the Palestinian Islamic movement, as well as Israel, of using weapons illegally during the recent Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"Amnesty's demands are unbalanced and unfair; they make equal between the real criminal and the victim," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum in Gaza.

In a report issued on Monday, the Amnesty International condemned Hamas, which rules the costal Palestinian territory, for indiscriminately launching rockets into Israeli communities near Gaza.

The report also demanded arms embargo to be imposed on Israel for using the American-produced white phosphorus in populated areas during the war in the Gaza Strip which ended in January.

Barhoum denied that Hamas received arms from any country. "No one exports weapons to Hamas while major and great countries export arms to the Zionist enemy."

Israel forces killed more than 1,300 Palestinians during the Operation Cast Lead that began late last December.

Gaza, Xinhua