Related: Israeli raid on S. Gaza kills 6

    RAMALLAH, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday that current Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip is politically motivated to serve Israeli policy.

    "The aim of this escalation is purely political to oblige the Palestinians to accept an everlasting truce, accept unilateral solutions and temporary state, borders forever," Erekat told reporters in Ramallah.

    At least 15 Palestinians, most of them militants, have been killed in the Israeli military operations in Gaza in the past three days.

    The chief negotiator accused Israel of carrying out an open-ended war against the Palestinians in an attempt to prepare for further unilateral steps and create a new reality on the ground.

    Israel said that the military actions in Gaza were in response to homemade rockets attacks launched by Palestinian militants.

    Israel has stepped up military actions against militants after Hamas, which rejects to recognize Israel and give up violence, came to power in late March.

    Israel has said that it would not deal with a Palestinian government led by Hamas, which is branded as a terrorist organization by Israel and the West.

    On Sunday, Israeli cabinet is expected to work out detailed policies toward a Hamas-led Palestinian government. Enditem