Palestine requests urgent Arab League meeting over Israeli escalation

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday requested an emergency ministerial-level meeting of the Arab League over the latest Israeli escalation.

In a statement, the ministry said it had directed "its permanent delegation to the Arab League to request an emergency meeting of the League Council at the ministerial level."

This comes in light of "the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people," it said.

Hamas launched a stunning attack Saturday that involved dozens of fighters who infiltrated Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip amid heavy rocket fire.

At least 300 Israelis were killed and over 1,500 injured in the attack, while several soldiers and civilians were captured by Hamas and taken back to Gaza.

Israel retaliated with a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, which left more than 250 Palestinians dead and over 1,788 injured, according to the Health Ministry.