WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused the militant Hamas organization of holding the people of Gaza hostage Friday and said the United States continues to seek a “durable and sustainable” cease-fire.
Speaking to reporters in the White House driveway after a meeting with President George W. Bush, Rice also said that the United States remains “very concerned about the situation there and is working very hard with our partners around the world.”
But she reiterated the Bush administration argument that any cease-fire in fighting that is now into its seventh day must hinge on the willingness of Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel. Rice also said she has no current plans to travel to the region.