EGYPT CONDEMNED ATTACKS ON NORTHERN GAZA ON FRIDAY, SAYING THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY ISRAEL IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS WAS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAID ISRAELI AIR STRIKES AND ARTILLERY FIRE HAD KILLED 10 PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING THREE CHILDREN ON A CROWDED GAZA BEACH, THE HIGHEST PALESTINIAN DEATH TOLL IN A SINGLE DAY SINCE LATE 2004. EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT "EXPRESSED HIS CONDEMNATION OF THE ISRAELI SHELLING OF GAZA", THE EGYPTIAN STATE NEWS AGENCY MENA SAID. "THE USE OF FORCE BY ISRAEL IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES IS A PRINCIPLE UNACCEPTABLE IN ITSELF AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURITY IN THE TERRITORIES IS ENTRUSTED TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY," HE ADDED. "INTERNATIONAL LAW BANS THE USE OF FORCE IN THIS EXCESSIVE MANNER IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS BECAUSE SHELLING CIVILIAN AREAS BY PLANE AND SHIP IS BOUND TO CAUSE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES," HE SAID. ABOUL GHEIT CALLED ON ISRAEL TO HOLD AN INQUIRY INTO THE ATTACKS AND TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH ACTS IN THE FUTURE, MENA ADDED. EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK MET ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT IN THE RED SEA RESORT OF SHARM EL-SHEIKH THIS WEEK AND PRESSED HIM TO RESUME PEACE TALKS WITH THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS IN GAZA HAVE ALSO BEEN MEDIATING BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN PALESTINIAN FACTIONS, THE SECULAR FATAH MOVEMENT OF PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AND THE ISLAMIST MOVEMENT HAMAS, WHICH CONTROLS THE CABINET AFTER WINNING ELECTIONS.
