Quartet supports Abbas but is silent on aid ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The "quartet" of Middle East peace mediators voiced support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and concern about humanitarian conditions in Gaza on Saturday but did not say whether it will ease its ban on direct aid to the Palestinian Authority.

The group -- the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations -- also called for an end to the violence in Gaza, where Hamas forces this week seized control after routing those of Abbas' Fatah party, and for ensuring humanitarian aid can flow into the coastal strip.

A quartet statement released by the U.S. State Department made no mention of whether the group will -- as widely expected -- remove its ban on direct aid to the Palestinian government imposed last year after Hamas won elections and came to power.

"The Quartet expressed its support for efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of Palestinians and called for respect for the human rights of all those in Gaza and the safety and security of international workers," the statement said.

"It called for an urgent end to the violence, and the cooperation of all parties to ensure appropriate security and access conditions for the passage of humanitarian goods and personnel both within the Gaza Strip and at key crossing points," it added.

The statement said it recognized "the necessity and legitimacy" of Abbas' decisions this week to dissolve the Hamas-led government and to declare a state of emergency, and that these were justified "given the grave circumstances."