ISLAMABAD, April 18: Pakistan on Sunday condemned the killing of the top Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al Rantissi by Israel a day earlier, calling it a violation of international law. Pakistan has urged the international community to step in to stem this cycle of violence.

A statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan on Sunday said: "Pakistan condemns the killing. Such arbitrary and extra-judicial killings contravene international law and are a bane of the efforts aimed at fostering peace and security in the Middle East, with the ultimate objective of creating a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state."

The Foreign Office Spokesman called upon the international community to intercede to staunch the cycle of violence destabilizing the region and to bring the peace process back on track.