CAIRO, May 13: Hamas said on Saturday it was willing to talk to Israel in order to solve a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories after a western aid freeze left the government in severe financial crisis.

“We as an occupied people are ready to talk to all sides in order to receive aid,” said Palestinian Health Minister Bassem Naim.

“This is not to say that we recognize the occupier but our dealings with the other side would be as an occupied people,” he said after meetings with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa in Cairo.

The Palestinian Authority is in severe financial crisis after the European Union and United States halted direct aid to its Hamas-led government on the grounds that the movement does not recognise Israel.

Israel has also suspended the payment of customs duties levied on goods that pass through its borders en route to the Gaza Strip or West Bank since the Islamist group won a massive victory in a Palestinian election last January. Mr Naim warned of a ‘humanitarian and health disaster if crossings are not opened to allow humanitarian and medical assistance into the Palestinian territories.

“We call on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to open the crossings,” he said, adding the Palestinian health ministry was ‘urgently in need of 4.3 million dollars in funds to provide a health service. —AFP