European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Saturday expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel. Ashton called in a statement issued in Brussels for restraint and return to the calm that has existed before the escalation, which started when Israel assassinated on Friday the head of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza, Zuhair al-Qaisy. At least 14 Palestinians were killed in several Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the last two days. “I very much deplore the loss of civilian life,” she said. “It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm,” added Ashton.