U.S. demands Hamas accept durable ceasefire
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The United States on Monday firmly backed Israeli strikes on Gaza in pursuit of Hamas targets and demanded the Palestinian Islamist group stop firing rockets and agree to a lasting ceasefire.
With a foreign policy crisis brewing three weeks before President-elect Barack Obama takes office, the United States pointedly did not call for Israel to stop air strikes that have killed more than 300 Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza over three days.
"The United States understands that Israel needs to take actions to defend itself," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.
Washington accuses Hamas of provoking Israel by declaring a 6-month-old truce dead on December 19 and firing rockets.
"Hamas has once again shown its true colors as a terrorist organization that refuses to even recognize Israel's right to exist," Johndroe said.
"In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire," he said.
President George W. Bush, who is on vacation at his Texas ranch, has made no public comment since the Israeli air strikes began on Saturday.
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