Post date: Aug 22, 2013 6:36:29 PM
Salafist in Gaza protest against violence in Egypt and Syria, Israel's Netanyahu comments on weapons in Syria.
RAFAH, GAZA (AUGUST 22, 2013) (REUTERS) - Israel said on Thursday (August 22) it believed Syrian forces had used chemical weapons in the killing of hundreds of people in the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus, and accused the world of turning a blind eye to such attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said if Syria is not punished, its ally Iran could be encouraged to develop nuclear weapons."Syria has become Iran's testing ground, and Iran is closely watching whether and how the world responds to the atrocities committed by Iran's client state Syria and by Iran's proxy Hezbollah against innocent civilians in Syria. and these events prove yet again that we simply cannot allow the world's most dangerous regimes to acquire the world's most dangerous weapons," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Opposition activists have accused Assad's forces of gassing hundreds, including women and children, on Wednesday, allegations which government officials deny.
Wednesday's incident, carried out while U.N. inspectors were in Damascus to look into allegations of earlier chemical attacks by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, was seized by Israel as an opportunity to question international resolve to curb its foes' suspected pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
The Assad government has denied using chemical weapons against Syrians. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Israel is widely assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal.
In Gaza Strip Salafist Muslim group protested in the street of Rafah city Southern of Gaza holding their black flags and posters against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
"This protest is in support with our brothers in Syria and in Egypt to tell them that we share the same blood," said Abu Dajaneh member of Salafist muslim group.