DAMASCUS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Syria condemned an Israeli attack that killed 18 civilians in Gaza on Wednesday and said the international community and U.N. Security Council had a duty to stop such "massacres" and hold Israel accountable. "Syria condemns strongly the state terrorism committed by Israel, and calls on Palestinians to unite their national line in face of Israeli crimes," a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry said. "The international community and the U.N. Security Council bear complete responsibility to stop these massacres and hold Israeli accountable," the statement said. Palestinian officials said Israeli tank shells killed 18 civilians in Gaza on Wednesday, including 13 members of one family, in one of Israel's deadliest attacks on the coastal strip in months. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a member of Hamas, called for suspension of talks on a new government following the attack. Syrian officials say Damascus has been playing a "constructive role" in efforts to form a Palestinian unity government through its contacts with Hamas, whose exiled leadership is based in Damascus.
