U.S. to continue humanitarian aid to Palestinians: official

The United States will continue to offer humanitarian aid to the Palestinians although it has threatened to cut off aid to the newly-installed Palestinian cabinet led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), visiting U. S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch said on Tuesday.

The United States would continue to support the Palestinian people via the United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the humanitarian field, Welch told reporters following a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef.

Welch made similar remarks on Monday when visiting Jordan.

The new Palestinian government, led by senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya, was sworn in on March 29 following Hamas' sweeping victory in the Jan. 25 legislative elections.

The U.S. and several European countries, have already decided to cut off diplomatic contact with the cabinet led by Hamas.

They also threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinian government unless Hamas recognizes Israel, renounces violence and accepts previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

Welch is currently on a visit to Egypt as part of a regional tour which has already taken him to Jordan and will further bring him to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Source: Xinhua