( AP ) - Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that peace talks with Israel must continue despite the escalating confrontation between Israel and the Hamas government in Gaza.
"We insist that the negotiations continue, and that we reach a solution this year that will satisfy our people and our national demands," he said.
Abbas had come under growing pressure at home to suspend negotiations after an escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas in recent days.
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza last week in response to a sharp increase in rocket attacks by Palestinian militants but partially lifted it Tuesday with a delivery of fuel for Gaza's power plant.