UNITED NATIONS . Sept 24. The Israeli siege of Gaza and starvation of Palestinians living there dominated press conference by the Middle- East Quartet on Sunday evening and world’s top diplomats called upon Israel to ease its stranglehold and allow humanitarian agencies’ access to the occupied territory.

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice declared: “ The United States will never abandon the people of Gaza simply because they live in Gaza. We will continue our humanitarian efforts. We have intensified those efforts over the last year and a half, increasing substantially our humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.”

She also confirmed that Syria could attend an upcoming Middle East peace conference in Washington in November as part of an Arab League committee.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, who represents the Middle East Quartet, reiterated his concerns over the situation in Gaza and said it was crucial that UN humanitarian agencies continued their work without hindrance.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said in a statement on behalf of the Quartet that the aim of the Washington meeting is to bring together key members of the international community, especially in the Middle East, to mobilise their support behind recent peace moves.

“The Quartet expects the meeting to affirm its support for the two-state solution based on a rejection of violence and its support for progress by their parties in their bilateral discussions. The meeting should also review progress that has been made toward building Palestinian institutions and discuss innovative and effective ways to support further Palestinian reform.”

Speaking to the press after the Quartet meeting, Mr. Blair said there was a feeling in the region that “things are moving again,” although he stressed that it was tempered by recognition that it was important not to be overly optimistic. Nevertheless, “there is a reinvigoration of the political process”.

Quartet members, the UN, Russia and the US agreed that Mr Blair should work closely with the Palestinian Authority to develop a multi-year agenda for economic and institutional development, and they called upon the international community to provide the necessary financial support.