CAIRO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) on Tuesday condemned Israel for committing a "heinous crime" as its airstrikes killed at least 13 in Gaza, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.
"The dangerous escalation comes within the open war waged by the Israeli right-wing government against the Palestinian people, their properties and sanctities," MENA quoted Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary-general for Palestine and occupied Arab territories affairs, as saying.
The AL official accused the Israeli government of resorting to a policy that would "eliminate any opportunity to achieve peace and ignite chaos and violence in the region," vowing to hold it fully responsible for an escalation of violence.
Earlier Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out simultaneous and surprise attacks at buildings housing senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military leaders in Gaza.
The Gaza-based health ministry said 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 were injured in the airstrikes, including ten civilian women and children.
The PIJ confirmed in a statement that three of its commanders, namely Jihad Ghannam, Khalil Al-Bahtini and Tareq Izzeldeen, were killed in the strikes. The faction vowed a response.
In a fresh airstrike in the afternoon, the Israeli military said they killed two PIJ militants preparing a rocket attack against Israel. ■
