The Gaza institution, headed by by ex-Hamas spokesman Imad Faluji, will work to coordinate "engagement between Israel and Gaza" ahead of the Jewish state's withdrawal from the occupied territory this summer, said a statement.

Other centres have been announced for Jerusalem, led by Israeli deputy minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, and Kfar Qasem, north of Tel Aviv, headed by the founder of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Nimr Darwish.

The centres, sponsored by the Christian London-based Foundation For Reconciliation in the Middle East, will organise projects with an emphasis on education, cultural and religious issues, added the joint statement.

"Now for the very first time in Middle East history we have a set of grass roots initiatives that have the backing of all three Abrahamic faiths. This... comes after three years of hard dialogue and discussion," it said.

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