Animal rights group slams "shocking" Hamas TV clip

JERUSALEM, Aug 15 (Reuters) Animal rights group PETA said today it would protest to a Hamas-run TV channel after a clip from a programme showing animals being abused appeared on YouTube, prompting scores of complaints from viewers worldwide.

''It's shocking and sickening,'' said Martin Mersereau, manager of the domestic animal abuse division of US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Speaking to Reuters by telephone, he said PETA was drafting a letter of protest to the Gaza-based al-Aqsa television station, which aired the show -- aimed at teaching children not to abuse animals -- last week.

A segment of the programme was posted on the YouTube video-sharing Web site after being recorded and translated by pro-Israeli group Palestinian Media Watch.

An official at the TV station declined immediate comment.

The YouTube clip shows an actor dressed as a bee mistreating a cat and lions at Gaza Zoo. In the studio, he is reprimanded by the programme's host, who cautions children against mimicking the bee's ''terrible'' behaviour.

''Any lessons meant to be contained in this segment are almost certainly lost on most children, who are more likely to imitate people they see treating animals cruelly rather than understand this behaviour is wrong,'' Mersereau said.

Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Islamist Hamas took control of the territory in June after civil war with the long-dominant Fatah faction.

The Hamas-run TV station made world headlines in June when it featured a character who resembled Disney's Mickey Mouse advocating Palestinian attacks against Israelis. ''Farfur'' was later ''beaten to death'' by an actor depicted as an Israeli.

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