US Agrees on Aid for Palestinians

US gave in to pressures exerted by the European Union and decided it would allow humanitarian aid to be channeled to the Palestinian government through a so called "temporary international mechanism", though it would not specify the exact means through which aid will be sent.

The group released an official statement saying that: "The Quartet expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability".

The decision was taken following intense negotiations held by the Quartet (a group made up of US, Russia, the EU and the UN committed to mediating the Middle East peace process), which had been making efforts to reach a compromise solution between alienating the Palestinian government, led by Hamas, and crippling an already fragile economy.

The mechanism will be developed and implemented by the European Union.