RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) – Hours after cash-starved civil servants stormed parliament, the Palestinian foreign minister returned Wednesday from a trip to muslim nations with US$20 million (euro16 million) in his luggage, a sign of Hamas’ desperation for money in the face of a Western boycott.

Dozens of the civil servants burst into the parliament building in the West Bank to demand their long-overdue salaries, throwing water bottles at Hamas lawmakers and forcing the parliament speaker to flee.

The second attack on the parliament this week, along with the shooting death of a Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip, cast doubt on renewed efforts by leaders of the rival Fatah and Hamas parties to halt deadly infighting.

Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction, has refused to cave in to calls by western donor nations to renounce violence and recognise Israel, despite the growing hardship. Instead, it has turned to the muslim world for help.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, returned to Gaza after visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, China, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt.

Palestinian security officials said Zahar was carrying US$20 million (euro16 million), which was turned over to the Palestinian treasury.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

A security official at the crossing said Zahar had six pieces of luggage with him. It was not known which ones held the currency or what denominations it was in.

The border is staffed by members of Abbas’ presidential guard, who are observed by European monitors. The monitors stand alongside the border guards and look at video and X-ray equipment, reporting any suspected violations to Palestinian or Israeli authorities.

Last month, a Hamas official was caught smuggling US$800,000 (euro637,000) into Gaza. The money was seized but later transferred to the government.