By Middle East and North Africa Business Report, Amman, Jordan Jul.

By Joel Greenberg, Chicago Tribune Jun. 22--RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The grim-faced men in the corner of the hotel lobby sat smoking and reading newspapers, saying little.

RAMALLAH, West Bank _ The grim-faced men in the corner of the hotel lobby sat smoking and reading newspapers, saying little.

Israel allowed 12 trucks of food and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Israeli officials and international aid representatives said, in an effort to avert a looming crisis now that Hamas is in control, Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem.

At least 11 Palestinians were killed yesterday - eight in one incident - in the deadliest fighting between Hamas and Fatah since the rivals formed a unity government to end bloodshed threatening to spill into civil war.