Asked today whether this agreement brings a Palestinian state closer into being, an Arafat aide, Marwan Kanafani, smiled broadly and said simply, "Yes."

While some Arafat aides say there is no alternative but to resume talks, many insist the P.L.O. cannot do so before obtaining some of its objectives.

But an Arafat aide said no more concessions would be made toward U.S. demands.

"We have no illusions about the rapidity of things," said Bassam Abu Sharif, a senior Arafat aide.

After Nabil Shaath, a close Arafat aide, caught both Palestinians and Israelis off-guard on Wednesday by announcing that the trip to Gaza was imminent, there was confusion about the date.

"We did not come from heaven, nor did we come to heaven," said Ahmad Abdel-Rahman, an Arafat aide for some two decades and now the Cabinet secretary.

The third, according to the official Palestinian statements, was Fuad Shobaki, a close Arafat aide who has long been in charge of finances for the Palestine Liberation Organization's military operations.

But even during the Algiers meeting, Arab officials from the Persian Gulf region disputed similar assertions by Arafat aides.

The Palestinian team was headed by Yasir Abed Rabbo, a former information minister and a longtime Arafat aide.

"It is a masked occupation," said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a top Arafat aide.