Hundreds of Palestinian children participated in a Hamas-organized rally in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, calling for lifting the blockade Israel has imposed on the territory since 2007.

The Islamic movement, which controls Gaza, organized the demonstration in front of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)'s mission headquarters in the city.

The children, who are taking part in Hamas' religious summer camps, chanted slogans against the Israeli blockade and waved banners calling for an end to the embargo which has taken effect since Hamas seized control of the coastal enclave.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman who marched with the demonstration, criticized the lack of Arab moves to break the Gaza closure.

"It is true that Israel is to be blamed for the siege, and it is unfortunately clear that the Arab intentions to break it are no longer existed," Abu Zuhri said.

He added that Hamas also rejects "linking the rebuilding of Gaza to any other cases," referring to Israel's decision not to open the commercial crossings of Gaza before Hamas releases Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier Hamas has been holding for three years.

In January, Israel completed a three-week military operation in Gaza, killing as many as 1,400 Palestinians and destroying thousands of houses and infrastructure.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2009)