Arab League slams Israel's anti-Palestinian policies as "time bomb"

Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit slammed on Saturday Israel's violent policies against the Palestinians as "a time bomb," calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip that is currently witnessing deadly clashes between the two sides.

"Israel's continued implementation of violent and extremist policies is a time bomb that deprives the region of any serious opportunities for stability in the foreseeable future," an AL statement quoted Aboul-Gheit as saying.

According to an update from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on the enclave earlier in the day killed 232 people and injured 1,697.

The Israeli raids followed an earlier rocket attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) that controls Gaza. Israeli media outlets reported Saturday that the new round of conflict between the two sides left at least 150 Israelis dead.

Hamas also held some Israeli officers and soldiers as hostages, as confirmed by the Israeli side.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that Israel was "in a state of war," while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized the right of the Palestinians to defend themselves against Israeli troops and settlers.