"Some European countries have decided on an annual support sum for the Palestinian government and have been in contact with Palestinian officials," the exiled Hamas politburo chief told a news conference in Cairo.

He declined to specify which countries so as "to not hamper" what he described as a positive move.

Meshaal is on a tour of various capitals to push acceptance of the so-called Makkah Accord, signed on February 8 between rivals Hamas and Fatah in order to forge a new unity government.

At a top-level meeting in Berlin on Wednesday, the Quartet on the Middle East -- United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations -- said it would wait until the new Palestinian government takes office to decide whether or not to lift sanctions, which have been in place for nearly a year.

"The blockade is a crime, in the past as it is today," Meshaal said. "It is unjustifiable. But after the Makkah accord, and after the formation of a unity government, it must not continue for another instant."

Meanwhile, three Palestinians were killed and 15 wounded in shootings late Friday and early Saturday, threatening the calm that has accompanied a power-sharing deal between Islamic Hamas militants and the rival Fatah Party.

The violence began shortly before midnight Saturday when Mohammed Ghelban, a 28-year-old commander from Hamas' military wing, was killed in a drive-by shooting outside his home. A 22-year-old man from a Fatah family, Hazem Karouah, was killed several hours later, as was 75-year-old Ismail Sabah, who was caught in the cross-fire.