Powell calls for Israeli restraint

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, expressing concern over the "serious humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territories, called on Israel to refrain from excessive force in its military operations, allow aid agencies to remove the dead and wounded and announced millions of dollars in new aid for the Palestinians.

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After a meeting with aid agencies, including the International Red Cross and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, Powell said President Bush had signed off on $30 million in new aid for UNRWA and would accelerate another $62 million in USAID money for health care, water system repairs and emergency food aid.

He also said that a donor conference for the Palestinian Authority would be held later in the month in Norway to help with "exceptional Palestinian need," including the long-term and reconstruction needs of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.

"Israeli sources must exercise the utmost restraint and discipline and refrain from the excessive use of force in the conduct of military operation in order to ensure that civilians are protected and to avoid worsening the already grave conditions inside Palestinian areas," Powell said in a statement.

"We call upon Israel to respect international humanitarian principles and to allow full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organizations and services to provide basic humanitarian services including the evacuation of the wounded and deceased.

"In this respect we are particularly concerned at the humanitarian situation in Jenin," the statement said.

On Friday, Palestinian officials meeting with U.S. Middle East Envoy Anthony Zinni said because there are now no clearly defined Palestinian areas and no functioning Palestinian Authority that an assessment committee needed to be formed to assess damage.

Palestinian sources said U.S. officials were amenable to that idea.