Venezuelan people have supported President Hugo Chavez's decision to expel the Israeli envoy as they protested against the Israeli blitz.

Around 1000 protesters condemned the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip in front of Israel's embassy in Venezuela on Thursday.

Breaking windows of the seven-story building, the protesters threw shoes at the building and chanted, "Israel Get Out" and "Long live a free Palestine".

Earlier, Chavez expelled Ambassador Shlomo Cohen to express its dismay at Israel's military campaign in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Since Israel launched "Operation Cast Lead", 781 people have been killed and nearly 3,200 others have been wounded in the Gaza Strip, emergency services said.

Chavez had earlier condemned the attacks and called on Venezuelan Jews to take a stand against the 'murderers' in Tel Aviv.

Israel said Cohen was given until Friday to depart, and it is considering expelling Venezuelan diplomats in response.

AGB/DT