Austria criticizes Israel over attacks in Gaza

Austrian President Heinz Fischer criticized Israel for its offensives in the Gaza strip, saying the death toll of the attacks puts forward a big disproportion between Israel and the Gaza region.

“Each criticism Israel receives is not anti-semitism,” said Fischer during his speech at the European Forum at Alpbach in the Tyrol state in Western Austria on Monday.

He pointed out that violence instigates hatred in the region, and added, “Israel justifies violence to protect its own region and the latest developments complicate the solution of the crisis.”

Israel resumed airstrikes across the beleaguered coastal enclave last week following the collapse of indirect, Egypt-hosted talks aimed at hammering out a long term cease-fire deal.

While Israel accused Hamas of breaking a temporary truce with a rocket barrage, the Palestinian faction accused the self-proclaimed Jewish state of attempting to derail the truce talks in Cairo.

At least 2,126 Palestinians have been killed and more than 10,860 injured since Israel began its offensive seven weeks ago with the stated aim of halting rocket fire from Gaza.