Abbas rules out deal with Hamas

Hamas has said it must have a role in the control of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

"There will be no talks with Hamas unless they comply with the conditions we have put forward - to back off their coup, to recognise international legitimacy and to accept new early elections," Abbas said on Wednesday.

"We cannot accept any new agreements. We adhere to the existing international agreements as concluded between us, the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the other four sides, including Egypt.

The EU said on Monday it would consider sending its border monitors back to the Rafah terminal, provided Israel, Egypt and Abbas all agreed.

Abbas said if Hamas did not back down on their "subversive acts" and meet the conditions, "dialogue would be pointless."

Power struggle

Gaza's border crossings have emerged as an important issue in the power struggle between Hamas and Abbas, whose authority has been limited to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, home to 2.5 million Palestinians, since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in June.