Erekat warns Israel against 'irresponsible action' in Gaza

PA official says terror attacks in South should not be used by Israel as "a pretext for aggression"; Hamas senior commanders go into hiding.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Erekat talking with hands in air 311 (photo credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Erekat talking with hands in air 311
(photo credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday warned Israel against "any irresponsible action" in the Gaza Strip in response to terror attacks that killed seven Israelis and wounded dozens more in the South earlier in the day.
"Israel stands warned of any possible aggressive action or collective punishment measures against the Palestinian population in Gaza," Erekat said in a statement.
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Erekat stated that the Palestinian Authority is "against violence in all its forms," however, he added that such attacks should not be used by Israel as "a pretext for aggression."
The PA official called on the international community to ensure calm in the region.
Earlier on Thursday, Hamas warned Israel not to attack the Gaza Strip, following a statement by Defense Minister Ehud Barak that the IDF would strike back at the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza following the deadly triple terror attack.
As a precaution, Hamas sent its senior commanders into hiding and evacuated command centers in anticipation of IDF strikes in response to the terror attack that IDF sources speculated originated in the Gaza Strip.
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