Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday condemned the continued Kassam rocket fire into the western Negev, but also urged Israel to let supplies into Gaza.

"These rockets that are being fired at Israel must stop. It's pointless," he said at a news conference with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik. "At the same time, Israel should not use these rockets as a pretext for collective punishment on Palestinians in Gaza. Israel must always allow humanitarian supplies and other needs to be provided to Gaza."