Palestinian leader Erekat condemns 'systematic Israeli escalation', calls for resistance not to give "pretext" for continued Israeli attacks

Ma'an – Member of the PLO Executive Committee and caretaker negotiations chief Saeb Erakat issued a statement Friday, saying he "emphatically condemns the systematic Israeli escalation and brutal military attacks against the civilian Palestinian population in the besieged Gaza Strip."

In the statement, Erekat called on Palestinian factions to "deny the occupying Power any pretext for launching more attacks," and announced his support for the earlier agreed on ceasefire in an effort to maintain calm in the border region.

"It is now time for the international community to intervene and prevent another round of merciless and illegitimate military escalation against Palestinian civilians," Erekat said, as the death toll reached 17 since Thursday afternoon, and Friday was declared the most violent day since Israel launched its Operation Cast Lead in the winter of 2008-9.

"The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Israel, as an occupying Power, remains obliged by the responsibilities outlined in international law to safeguard the lives and safety of the Palestinian population. We call on the international community to assume its responsibilities in ensuring that Israel respects those responsibilities by ending the illegal siege and ceasing all military attacks."