An international Quartet on the Middle East peace process yeterday agreed on a European proposal to provide direct aid for Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas government.

The Quartet, comprising the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union, said in a statement that the temporary funding mechanism will provide needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people.

The scheme, which is subject to a review in three months, covers the health sector and basic needs of poor Palestinians.

In the statement, the Quartet also called on other donating institutions of the international community to channel their aid to the Palestinians through the mechanism, and urged the Palestinian Authority to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept international obligations.

The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority has been doing without nearly all international aid since it was formed in March. The EU and the United States have branded the Islamic militant group as a terrorist organization, saying that there will be no question of aid unless it renounces violence and acknowledges Israel's right to exist.