The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) praised on Thursday UN chief Kofi Annan's remarks that Israeli offensives in Lebanon should not distract attention from the Gaza Strip.

"We commend Annan's calls that intend to remind of Israeli massacres in the Gaza Strip in the shadow of what is going on in Lebanon," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the Voice of Palestine.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for Annan also condemned Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip, saying that an Israeli killing of civilians and children was unjustifiable.

Israel launched offensives against the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants captured Corporal Gilad Shalit in late June.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is still touring Arab countries in an effort to put an end a deepening crisis in the Palestinian territories.

Source: Xinhua