Jerusalem  - Israel repeatedly fired white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas of Gaza during its offensive there in late December to mid January, a human rights group charged Wednesday.

The firing "was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its 71-page report.

Tel Aviv  - Responding to charges that Israeli troops fighting in the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip violated military ethics, Israel Defence Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday that he did not believe soldiers intentionally harmed Palestinian civilians.

The allegations had been transferred to military's Criminal Investigation Division for investigation, Lieutenant-General Ashkenazi said while visiting an army base.

Gaza - Independent Palestinian representatives on Saturday called on Hamas to take a speedy decision on unity proposals put forward at this week's reconciliation talks in Cairo.

The Egypt-mediated talks were aimed at ending the schism between Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and the secular Fatah movement, which rules the West Bank.

"I hope an agreement is reached soon but it seems our brothers in Hamas' delegation needs more consultations," said Munib al-Massri, a veteran businessman and former independent politician.

Gaza City/Cairo  - Hamas said Wednesday that Palestinian factions had agreed in Cairo that the unity government they are trying to form will be a transitional one that would prepare for new elections to be held no later than January 25, 2010.

Cairo/Gaza City  - Egypt on Wednesday opened the Rafah border crossing for two days to allow Palestinians stranded on both sides of the border to cross, Gaza's Interior Ministry and Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.

Trucks carrying humanitarian supplies and more than 100 Palestinians that had been stranded in Egypt crossed into the Palestinian enclave via the Rafah crossing, MENA reported.

Gaza  - The Palestinian Hamas movement on Tuesday blamed Israel for the failure of negotiations for a possible prisoner swap deal and threatened to abduct more Israeli soldiers.

"Israel is the one that hindered Shalit's deal," Hamas said in a statement Tuesday night as Israel announced the failure of negotiations for a deal that would see the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for jailed Palestinian militants.