Rice accuses Hamas

The United States... Secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, has claimed that the US are working towards a "durable and sustainable ceasefire" in the present conflict in Gaza.

• Rice heavily criticised Hamas for refusing a truce, accusing the faction of holding the inhabitants of Gaza hostage.
• The US secretary of state also said on Friday that any ceasefire would not allow a "re-establishment of the status quo ante" where Hamas could continue to launch rockets out of Gaza.
• "Hamas has used Gaza as a launching pad for rocket attacks against Israeli cities and has contributed totally to the bad situation lived by the Palestinian people in Gaza," she added. 
• M. O.