The Palestinian Authority (PA) described the Israeli air strikes as a “criminal act of aggression.” "The Israeli bombing in Gaza and the arrests in the West Bank lead to one direction, and that's the collapse of the cease-fire, which serves no side's interest," said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. At the same time, the PA condemned Hamas for parading weapons, mishandling explosives and setting off a new cycle of violence. The PA urged both Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint.