Animal rights group PETA confirmed today it would protest to Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV regarding a "shocking and sickening" clip featuring a comedy bee mistreating cats and lions at Gaza zoo, Reuters reports.

The offending insect, named Nahool, indulged in a light bit of feline abuse to demonstrate to kids that knocking animals about is very, very wrong. The outrage was picked up by pro-Israeli Palestinian Media Watch and promptly surfaced on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_zrpgl8O1U), to widespread condemnation:

Martin Mersereau, manager of PETA's domestic animal abuse division, thundered: "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."

PETA is apparently as we speak drafting a strongly-worded letter to al-Aqsa, while the station is remaining tight-lipped on the matter.

This is not the first time al-Aqsa has caused a rumpus with novelty animal characters. The controversial career of "Farfur" - Hamas' answer to Mickey Mouse who favoured advocating Palestinian attacks against Israelis - ended when he was rather sensationally beaten to death (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrieBhaGgHM) by an Israeli spook. The mind boggles. ®

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