Abbas Stays Noncommittal on Peace Talks

Egypt is pressing for a cease-fire as part of a package deal that would include opening a key passage from Gaza into Egypt and would seek the release of an Israeli soldier seized by gunmen from Gaza nearly two years ago. Rice has avoided using the term "cease-fire," in part because it might accord some legitimacy to Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel.

Aboul Gheit also appeared to suggest that the tactic of isolating Hamas cannot continue forever. "We have to admit Hamas is part of the Palestinian equation" and will have to be dealt with, "meaning at a certain point in time down the road as we make progress," he said.

Over the past week, Hamas and Israeli forces have engaged in some of the deadliest clashes in years. In withdrawing its ground troops Monday, Israel said it had completed an operation aimed at reducing Hamas's military capabilities.

But sporadic violence continued on Tuesday. Eight rockets or mortar shells were launched from Gaza into Israeli territory, with one striking a house in the nearby town of Sderot, the Israeli military said. No injuries were reported.

Israel carried out two airstrikes Tuesday targeting Palestinians suspected in connection with the rocket launches. The Health Ministry in Gaza said two people, both civilians, were killed in the attacks.

Israeli officials have indicated there will be more operations, perhaps a full-scale invasion of the strip.

[Late Tuesday, Israeli soldiers briefly reentered central Gaza and clashed with gunmen, killing a senior member of the Islamic Jihad militant group before pulling back, the Reuters news agency reported from Ramallah, citing medical workers and the army. An infant was killed in the crossfire.]

Correspondent Griff Witte in Jerusalem contributed to this report.