The United States will continue to offer humanitarian aid to the Palestinians despite a stance taken by the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), visiting US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Welch said the United States encourages and supports peace in Palestine and a two-state vision --Palestine and Israel living side by side in security and peace.

He said the position of the quartet committee -- the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, on Hamas remained unchanged.

The quartet committee, a longtime mediator over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, urges Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel's existence and honor previous agreements.

The quartet claims that there will be an inevitable impact on direct aid to the Palestinian government, if Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, did not meet requirements.

On the Iraqi issue, Welch said the situation there is difficult and a strong coalition government is needed to lead the Iraqi people to the future.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)