Hamas rejects Israeli truce plan

DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Two members of the Arab League suspended commercial and diplomatic ties with Israel Friday because of the Gaza fighting, and Hamas rejected a cease-fire.

Representatives from Qatar and Mauritania the two countries announced the action during a meeting hosted by Qatar, the Financial Times reported. Arab leaders called for war crimes prosecutions of Israel.

While Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two of the most powerful countries in the league, opposed the meeting, representatives from Iran, Sudan, Algeria, Syria and Lebanon attended. Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, who lives in Damascus, also showed up, the report said.

Meshaal said that Hamas would not agree to a cease-fire in Gaza. Israeli has offered to reopen Gaza's borders after a halt to the fighting and a period of "sustainable quiet."

"Despite all the destruction in Gaza, I assure you: We will not accept Israel's conditions for a cease-fire,"

Meshaal said.

Mauritania on the west coast of Africa is one of three countries in the Arab League to have full diplomatic relations with Israel. Qatar has had strong commercial ties to Israel that includes an Israeli trade office in Doha.