Chavez Expels Israeli Ambassador Over Gaza Conflict, Labeling It "Genocide"

Caracas, Venezuela (AHN) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday expelled Israel's ambassador to the country as he accused the Jewish nation of "genocide" against the Palestinian people. He described the Israeli army as "cowards."

This as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon slammed Israel's shelling of schools run by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Gaza that killed 30 people and injured dozens more as he repeated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the region.

In a statement released by the U.N. office in Manila, Philippines, Ban said, "These attacks by Israeli military forces which endanger U.N. facilities acting as places of refuge are totally unacceptable and must not be repeated. Equally unacceptable are any actions by militants which endanger the Palestinian civilian population."

"Today's events underscore the dangers inherent in the continuation and escalation of this conflict. I call once again for an immediate ceasefire," Ban's statement adds.

The U.N. chief said Israeli authorities and the Israeli army were given the exact locations via GPS of the U.N. facilities. He adds that seven U.N. staff were injured in one of the Israeli air strikes, including three seriously, while three patients in an UNRWA health center were also injured.

Chavez issued a statement read in national state television saying that the Venezuelan people are manifesting their "unconditional solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people, share in the sadness that overcomes thousands of families through the loss of their loved ones, and extends to them a hand by affirming that the government of Venezuela will not rest until it sees those responsible for these criminal atrocities severely punished."

The Venezuelan president say his government strongly condemns the flagrant violations of international law by Israel and denounces their planned utilization of state terrorism.

It is for this reason, Chavez said that his government is expelling the Israeli ambassador from Caracas, including some Israeli Embassy personnel in Venezuela.