Fifteen Israeli civilians wounded in Palestinian rocket attacks have petitioned a Belgian court to issue arrest warrants against leaders of the Gaza Strip's ruling Hamas movement.

The legal action follows a series of efforts by Palestinians to have Israeli officials and former military commanders arrested abroad over military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Uri Yablonka, director of a pro-Israel European lobby group, says the Israelis filed a criminal complaint with Belgium's federal prosecutor on Wednesday. He says all 15 were wounded during Israel's three-week war against Hamas a year ago. They all hold dual Belgian citizenship.