In an unusual step, Hamas has issued a call for help to the Arab world, citing Israel's assassination attempt on a Hamas spiritual leader and the European Union's inclusion of its political wing on the list of terror groups, local Haaretz Daily reported Tuesday.

The Palestinian resistance movement on Monday asked for assistance in its struggle against the pressure exerted by Israel and the West at large, the report said.

A Hamas circular distributed in the Gaza Strip and on the Internet declared that "in light of the continuing acts of massacre and aggression, the effort to assassinate Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the expansion of the war against Hamas, and its inclusion on the terror organization list, we call on the Islamic Arab world to provide help."

The circular urged Arab leaders to denounce Israel's assassination policy, and to take diplomatic steps to alter the EU decision.

Hamas also asked religious authorities to issue Islamic rulings compatible with the organization's interests.

According to the report, Hamas has designated this Friday as a " day of rage," in which rallies are to be staged around the Arab world to protest Israel's assassination policy. 

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