Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan blamed Israel on Sunday for the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.

"Situations at Karny industrial crossing are worse than the period before the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," Dahlan said at a joint press conference following a Gaza tour with Quartet Committee Special Envoy James Wolfensohn.

Dahlan said Israel continued its closure at Gaza crossings in an attempt to strangle economy in the coastal strip.

Wolfensohn and Dahlan visited former Israeli Nitzarim settlements in the southern Gaza City, Rafah crossing on the Gaza- Egypt border and Karny industrial crossing in western Gaza.

Wolfensohn expressed hope that both sides will reach an agreement on Gaza crossings through negotiations to ease the suffering of the Palestinians especially those living in the Gaza Strip.

As to this, Wolfensohn said he would also present his suggestions to Israel and the United States in a bid to help end the Palestinian suffering.

Dahlan called for achieving peace in the Palestinian territories and working on getting the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip out of the big jail especially after shutting down the borders, crossings, seaport and airport.

Dahlan also hoped that the visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region scheduled Sunday evening would bring solutions to unresolved issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua