Palestine requests Arab League emergency meeting over Israeli attacks on Gaza: source

Arab League

CAIRO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestine requested an Arab League (AL) emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers to discuss the Israeli "aggression" on the Gaza Strip.

Mohannad Aklouk, Palestine's permanent representative at the AL submitted the official request after coordination with Saudi Arabia, a source in the office of the Palestinian representative to the AL told Xinhua on Monday.

Palestine also seeks to discuss the recent developments in the West Bank and means of supporting the Palestinian people who face social, economic, humanitarian, and political challenges, he said.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, to which Israel responded with massive airstrikes, ground operations, and punitive measures that included a siege on the enclave with supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities being cut off.

At least 1,400 people in Israel were killed, and a total of 239 people were taken hostage during the Hamas attacks, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip rose to 8,306, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Monday. Meanwhile, 21,048 Palestinians were wounded by the ongoing Israeli airstrikes, it added.