Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told the Egyptian media Tuesday he would remain committed to international resolutions at a Middle East conference initiated by the U.S. and due later this year.

At least six Palestinian gunmen were killed and a dozen wounded in Israeli air strikes and troops clashes in Gaza, Palestinian radio said Friday.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she has been "encouraged" by talks during her tour of the Middle East despite "tensions" between Israelis and Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won tempered Egyptian support in her quest to nudge Israelis and Palestinians closer together ahead of a Mideast peace conference to be held in November or December.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Israeli leaders at the start of her latest Middle East tour, but warned she did not expect a major peace breakthrough ahead of a US-sponsored meeting next month.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders will hold another summit meeting on Wednesday in a bid to advance the peace process. But despite some signs of progress, serious differences remain.

The American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, will hold separate meetings in Jerusalem and Ramallah with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents after Israel declared the Gaza Strip to be "a hostile entity".

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States agrees with Israel that the Gaza Strip is a "hostile entity" now that it is controlled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel released dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of a U.S.-backed deal to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas following the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas Islamists last month.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she saw hopeful signs that progress was possible in forging peace in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will try to smooth ruffled feathers in Russia next week ahead of a planned meeting between President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Israeli officials have rejected a list of Palestinian prisoners to be swapped in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier being held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem Bureau.