Ramallah  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Saturday for the United Nations Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to stop the Israeli air and ground offensives on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement that Abbas called on the Security Council to convene immediately "to halt and stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip."

"President Abbas intensified his contacts with Arab and foreign countries to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip without any preconditions," Erekat said.

He said that Abbas called on the international community "to carry its responsibilities towards Gaza Strip population." Abbas' call came shortly after Israeli decided to start a ground operation into the blockaded enclave.

Erekat said that Abbas and the Palestinian leadership "strongly condemn the criminal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and held the Israeli government responsible for the outcomes of the offensive." (dpa)