Israeli PM pledges aid to Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has promised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume the flow of humanitarian aid and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.

Olmert made the promise to Abbas during their meeting on Sunday, in Jerusalem. The meeting came after Hamas blew up the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, causing many needy Gazans to cross into Egypt to purchase daily necessities.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has pledged not to disrupt the supply of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip.

Abbas has demanded Israel take steps to minimize hardship amongst civilians in the area.

Both sides described Sunday's talks as "constructive and positive."

Abbas' spokesman says Olmert and Abbas briefly touched on the subject of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah, as Abbas is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday.

Spokeman for Israeli PM David Baker said, "Both sides discussed at length, the situation in the Gaza Strip and the need to foster cooperation between both sides. The Israeli Prime Minister spoke about the need to meet once again with Abu Mazen and to further the cause of peace and to advance the peace process in any way. They spoke at length, about the situation in the Gaza Strip."

On the same day, members of the Egyptian parliament met with representatives of Hamas in Gaza City, to discuss the crisis. And a Hamas delegation has been invited to discuss the situation with Egyptian officials in Cairo.

Hamas representative Mushir Al-Masri said, "We welcome the Egyptian President's invitation, and stress that it's unconditional Palestinian dialogue that will be conducive to positive results... and that Palestinian dialogue based on national principles, constitutes the basis of success for this dialogue, aside from any preconditions."

Nearly two weeks ago, the Israeli government ordered the closure of all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, in retaliation to the firing of dozens of rockets and mortar shells by Palestinian militants into southern Israel. The blockade has led to fuel supply in Gaza to reach critical levels.