RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Gaza's Hamas rulers of allowing al-Qaida to infiltrate the coastal strip, and Hamas militants on Tuesday hotly denied the allegation.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, center, smiles during a visit to the Palestinian Dehaysha Refugee Camp, on the edge of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, July 10, 2007. [AP]

In an interview Monday with Italy's RAI-TV, Abbas said that "thanks to the support of Hamas, al-Qaida is entering Gaza." Abbas, who met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Tuesday, offered no evidence to support his allegations.

Abbas renewed a request to deploy an international force in Gaza, widely seen as a nonstarter because of the many complications of sending forces to such a volatile area. In a joint news conference, Prodi suggested the time was not ripe for such a deployment.

Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas rejected international forces. "We consider any international presence in Gaza a type of external aggression against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian issue and unwanted interference in internal Palestinian affairs," he said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Abbas of trying to whip up sentiment against Hamas, which vanquished the president's forces in Gaza last month and unseated his Fatah political party in 2006 parliamentary elections.

Haniyeh dismissed Abbas' charges.

"The Islamic resistance movement Hamas has no relationship with al-Qaida, and Hamas' philosophy, views and politics are different," he told the Italian broadcaster. "It focuses its struggle against the Israeli occupation and inside the borders of the occupied Palestinian territories, and it does no work outside of these borders."

Abbas did not explain whether he meant al-Qaida members from abroad have entered Gaza, or that local militant groups are taking inspiration from the international terror network. The "Army of Islam," which last week freed BBC correspondent Alan Johnston after holding him for nearly four months in Gaza, claims links to al-Qaida, but no concrete evidence of that has been found.

Prodi expressed support for Abbas and said Italy is prepared to funnel more aid to the Palestinians. "This is the time to give Palestinians hope," he added. "We don't think humanitarian support is enough."

Leaving Israel late Tuesday, Prodi was held up by Israeli security because he was carrying gifts from Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli media reported. Israel does not allow passengers to board planes with wrapped items, especially from Palestinian territories. The Italian Embassy agreed to ship Prodi's gifts to Rome, and the premier left Israel.

Early Wednesday, two explosions blew a large hole in the wall along the Gaza-Egypt border, witnesses reported. Hamas gunmen rushed to scene to prevent anyone from fleeing or entering Gaza and there were no immediate crossings reported. Several groups had issued threats in recent days about attacking the wall.

Abbas reiterated that he would engage in dialogue with Hamas only if the militants reversed the violent takeover of Gaza and apologized to the Palestinian people. Hamas was unlikely to meet such demands.

Hamas leaders, fearful of deepening the group's international isolation, suggested after seizing Gaza that they would steer clear of al-Qaida, in line with the movement's position to focus on the conflict with Israel.

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