Hamas responsible for Gaza conflict: Bush

WASHINGTON: Branding the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel "an act of terror", US president George W Bush has blamed the Palestinian militant group for the bloody clashes in Gaza and sought a "meaningful ceasefire" in the region.
    
"This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel's destruction," Bush said in his yet to be aired weekly radio address, an advance copy of which was released by the White House on Friday.
    
More than 400 people have been killed in the latest attacks in Gaza, where Israeli warplanes pounded Hamas strongholds.
    
Stating that he has been monitoring the situation in the Middle East for over the past week along with the members of his national security team, Bush claimed that Hamas imported thousands of guns, rockets and mortars after taking over the Gaza Strip in a coup 18 months ago.
    
"Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but Hamas routinely violated that ceasefire by launching rockets into Israel.
    
"On December 19th, Hamas announced an end to the ceasefire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis -- an act of terror that is opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President (Mahmoud) Abbas," Bush said.
    
It is in response to these attacks on their people that the leaders of Israel have launched military operations on Hamas positions in Gaza, Bush said.

As a part of their strategy, Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population, which puts innocent Palestinians at risk, Bush said, regretting that Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days because of the conflict.
    
Bush also held Hamas responsible for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has worsened after its takeover of the region 18 months ago.
    
"By spending its resources on rocket launchers instead of roads and schools, Hamas has demonstrated that it has no intention of serving the Palestinian people," he said.
    
The outgoing US President urged all nations to work towards an end to violence in Gaza and return to the path of peace.
    
"The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected," he said.
    
"Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable," Bush said.
    
Arguing that promises from Hamas will not suffice, Bush called for monitoring mechanisms to help ensure that smuggling of weapons in Gaza comes to an end.