Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal speaks at a news conference in the building of the Syrian Television in Damascus Nov. 8, 2006. The Hamas leader vowed on Wednesday to retaliate against Israel after its shelling of Gaza which killed 19 Palestinian civilians.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

DAMASCUS, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Exiled Hamas leader in Syria Khaled Meshaal on Wednesday called for a formation of international war criminal tribunal against Israeli officials with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on top of the list.

   "Israel has committed crimes for decades ... The Arab nation should demand to put the leaders of the enemy (Israel) before an international tribunal for war crimes," he said.

   Meshaal made the remarks at a press conference after Israeli tank shells struck houses in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, killing at least 19 Palestinians and wounding dozens of others.

   Meshaal, politburo chief of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), condemned the attack as "massacre" and vowed to retaliate, saying "our condemnation will not be in words but in deeds, the resistance will respond."

   He also called on all Palestinian resistance factions to work together against the Israeli crimes.

   Meanwhile, Meshaal appealed to Arab organizations and government leaders that they would not surrender to the U.S. pressure of continuing blockade against the Palestinians.

   Wednesday's shelling on norther Gaza town of Beit Hanoun came two day after Israel announced the end of its military operation in northern Gaza, dubbed "Autumn Clouds," on Monday night.

   Operation Autumn Clouds that began on Nov. 1 with the aim of stemming rocket attacks on southern Israel from the Palestinian side had killed at least 64 Palestinians and wounded more than 250 before the announcement of completion.