CAIRO: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has accused Israel of reckless behavior that risks a dangerous escalation in the region. 

Israel 鈥渋s practicing a reckless policy without foreseeing the dire consequences that could affect the region as a result of its actions,鈥� he said.

His remarks follow the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah figures Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr in Israeli strikes this week.

The Arab League chief said that 鈥渁ssassinations are acts that violate international law, and carrying them out reveals a great disregard for international norms and an affront to the rules that regulate relations between states.鈥�

Aboul Gheit said that 鈥渢he international community must exert the necessary pressure on Israel to prevent an all-out regional explosion caused by the reckless policies of its leaders.鈥�

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sunni Islam鈥檚 oldest and foremost seat of learning, also condemned the killing of Haniyeh.

The Hamas leader spent 鈥巋is life defending his land, and the cause of the Arabs and 鈥嶮uslims, the cause of free Palestine, it said.

Al-Azhar said such 鈥巃ssassinations will not undermine the determination of the 鈥巗truggling Palestinian people who have made, and continue 鈥巘o make, great sacrifices to restore their rights to establish the 鈥巌ndependent state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.鈥�

It offered condolences and sympathy to the Palestinian people and the Haniyeh family.