Hamas says Syria gas attack was ‘criminal slaughter‘

The Hamas terror organization on Tuesday joined the chorus of condemnation against the chemical attack which left 58 civilians dead in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun, Israeli media reported.

Calling the attack “criminal slaughter,” the organization called in a statement for the end of bloodshed in Syria and for the extrication of civilians from the cycle of violence.

The suspected chemical attack in rebel-held northwestern Syria killed dozens of civilians including children and left many more sick and gasping on Tuesday, causing widespread outrage.

The attack on the town of Khan Sheikhun killed at least 58 civilians and saw dozens suffer respiratory problems and symptoms including vomiting, fainting and foaming at the mouth, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Syria’s opposition blamed President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, saying the attack cast doubt on the future of peace talks.

The army denied any involvement in a statement blaming “terrorist groups” for using “chemical and toxic substances”.

At least 19 children and 13 women were among the dead, the Observatory said.

If confirmed, it would be one of the worst chemical attacks since Syria’s civil war began six years ago.

Channel 1 News said Qatar-based Hamas leader, Izzat al-Rishq, also condemned Monday’s terror attack in the Saint Petersburg subway in Russia.

The death toll from that attack reached 14 on Tuesday.

The suicide bomber was from Kyrgyzstan, security services in the Central Asian country said, although there was no confirmation from Russia.