Above: CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean Community is “deeply concerned” by the escalation of the Israel/Palestinian conflict, Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said in a statement issued Wednesday.

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) condemns the killing of three Israeli teenagers and the revenge killing of a young Palestinian,” he said. “The Community is deeply concerned by the resulting escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza with the continuing Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the firing of Palestinian rockets targeting Israeli cities.”

LaRocque said that the “mounting toll of innocent Palestinian civilians and the widespread destruction of homes and property in Gaza,” was of “particular concern.”

“The Caribbean Community calls on both sides to show restraint and to heed the calls for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation of the violence, death and destruction,” he said. “The Caribbean Community reiterates that only good faith negotiations between the sides involved can lead to a resolution of this long-standing conflict.”