Israel president urges Europeans to shun Hamas

JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday urged Europeans to shun Hamas, telling the European parliament's president that the Islamists who rule Gaza are a "murderous terrorist" group.

"Europeans must understand that Hamas is a dangerous and murderous terrorist organization and must stop immediately showing any sympathy and support as this attitude prevents the continuation of the peace process," Peres told Hans-Gert Poettering.

Poettering on Monday led delegation of European parliamentarians to the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by a 22-day Israeli military offensive in which more than 1,300 Palestinians were killed.

Following his visit, the European official expressed grave concern about the situation in the Palestinian enclave that is reeling under an Israeli blockade imposed after Hamas seized power in June 2007.

"We have to help the people of Gaza by opening the borders, while preventing Hamas from arming again. We are in favor of peace and resolutely against war and terrorism," he said.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was also scheduled to visit Gaza later this week as part of a Middle East tour aimed at helping consolidate the ceasefires that ended Israel's war on Gaza on January 18.

European and US officials had generally stayed away from the Gaza Strip for years, but several have traveled to the impoverished territory since the end of the Israeli offensive.

Influential US Senator John Kerry and two other Democratic US congressmen last week visited the war-shattered coastal strip.

The EU, the United States and Israel all blacklist Hamas as a terrorist organisation.