RAMALLAH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Saturday pressed for a speedy international investigation into the "Israeli aggression" against Palestinian protestors in the Gaza Strip.

The delay of an investigation into Israel's "systematic and continued aggression" against defenseless civilian population would "cost the lives of more Palestinians," PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat said in a statement.

A Palestinian was killed and 968 others, including 54 children and 15 women, were injured in peace protests in Gaza on Saturday, Erekat noted.

They marched "to practice their natural and humanitarian right to hold demonstrations calling for liberation and return," he said.

The PLO senior official also accused Israeli forces of preventing the press from "covering its occupation and exposing its crimes" and "targeting medical staff."

Palestinian official reports said at least eight journalists and eight paramedics have been injured by Israeli gunfire during the "Great March of Return" rally in Gaza since March 30.

Palestinian cameraman Yasser Murtaja was killed by Israeli gunfire while covering the clashes.

Official figures from Gaza Health Ministry show 32 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 3,000 others injured since the start of the six-week mass rally on March 30.

The rally is expected to peak on May 15, the day after the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence but marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or "Day of the Catastrophe."