Under the temporary government, Salam Fayyad, a well-regarded international economist, has replaced Ismail Haniya as Palestinian prime minister. Abbas chose all political independents for the cabinet. In addition, Mr Abbas issued a decree outlawing the Hamas militia and the Hamas executive force, although he did not outlaw the Hamas political movement.

Hamas rejected the new government.

In the Gaza Strip, where Hamas Islamists routed Abbas's secular Fatah forces last week, 1.5 million people faced the prospect of greater hardship and isolation, with Israel cutting back fuel supplies and local suppliers saying the coastal enclave may run out of fuel for cars and stoves within two days.

The international community led by the United States cut off international funding to the Palestinian government after Hamas took power last year.

Israeli human rights groups are appealing for the Israeli government to reopen its border crossings with Gaza to allow food and medical relief supplies, one of the groups, called B'Tselem, announced on June 17.

Karni Crossing, the main Israel-Gaza border crossing, has been closed for six days. According to B'Tselem, Erez crossing was closed on Saturday and Nahal Oz was closed on Sunday.

In addition, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed since last weekend.