Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts     

    RAMALLAH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would leave later on Friday with other Arab leaders for New York to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.

    "President Abbas will head to News York with other Arab leaders to achieve an Arab consensus to oblige Israel to achieve an unconditioned immediate stop of the offensive on Gaza," Erekat told reporters in Ramallah.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks to reporters in Riyadh Dec. 27, 2008. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would leave later on Friday with other Arab leaders for New York to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.   (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Israel has been carrying out unprecedented and intensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday, leaving 430 people killed and some 2200 wounded, and destroying Hamas buildings, houses and mosques.

    Erekat's statements were made as he held separate talks with the American General Consul Jack Wallace, the British Consul Richard McBes and the European Union envoy Christian Burger in the West Bank.

    Erekat stressed that "what is needed at the moment is an immediate stop of the Israeli military aggression on Gaza, then to carry out the proper measures to guarantee a mutual and comprehensive Tahde'a (truce) with Israel."

    Together with ending the aggression and reaching a truce, the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip should be ended and all crossing points have to be reopened and an internal Palestinian national reconciliation should be achieved, he added.

    Erekat called on the international community to activate the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and achieve an international protection to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip."

    He also called on the world to send more aids to the United Nations, to help the people of Gaza, including electricity and fuels.

    Erekat also stressed that the Palestinian rivals, Hamas and Fatah, should stop all their campaigns of incitement and create proper atmosphere to succeed the Egyptian efforts in achieving an internal Palestinian reconciliation.