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The government of George W. Bush called again on Tuesday the end of violence in the Middle East and demanded that the Sunni Islamist group Hamas to "stop launching rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House issued a statement from President George W. Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, noting that the U.S. wants to see a lasting peace in the region and that the government seeks to help achieve it.


He indicated that the end of the new wave of violence that has left hundreds dead and wounded, it depends on the willingness of Hamas to "respect a ceasefire is sustainable and lasting."

Johndroe told the press that Bush said in Texas a short conversation with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of the White House Josh Bolten and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, to receive updates on the situation.


Johndroe blamed Hamas for the violence, saying it broke a cease-fire six months and had "shown its true face as a terrorist organization."

At the same time, said the United States asked Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.


Later, Johndroe told reporters in Crawford that the population in southern Israel can not live in peace due to the rockets fired from Gaza by extremists. "They have to live a long time in bomb shelters and that is unacceptable."

In Israel, 17 people have died this year in attacks from Gaza.


Johndroe said the victims in Gaza must be given access to food and medical supplies.

When asked whether Washington believes that Israel has justified the attacks in Gaza, said that "The United States understands that Israel needs to take action to defend itself."


Also from the farm in Crawford, Bush spoke by phone with King Abdullah of Jordan, who on Monday donated blood for the victims in Gaza.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, made efforts by telephone to several parts in order to reinstall the truce.


Gordon Duguid, a spokesman for Rice said the secretary had called five times to his Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni, on Friday. He noted that Rice had spoken with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, both Israel and the Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

He also drew three times the Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, said Duguid.


"We are working for a ceasefire now, where Hamas should stop rocket attacks," he added.

Meanwhile, the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama tries to carefully define its position.


The outgoing government has blamed the violence on Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, saying it broke the ceasefire by launching rockets and mortars at Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, Obama is not known whether both expressed support for Israel as Bush has done.

The death of hundreds of Palestinians in the Israeli attack against the Islamic group has generated strong criticism in the Arab world and the renewed violence has complicated plans for Obama to achieve peace in the Middle East, something that governments could not Bill Clinton and Bush .

David Axelrod, Obama adviser, said the president-elect will keep the "important link" between the U.S. and Israel.

"He wants to be a constructive force in helping bring peace and security they want and deserve both Israelis and Palestinians," Axelrod said Sunday on "Face the Nation" of CBS.