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CRAWFORD, Texas, USA (AP) - The United States on Saturday blamed the Hamas militia for violating a cease-fire and attack Israel, which responded with attacks in the bloodiest day of fighting in recent years.

The White House called for restoring the height of fire, although there was little evidence of cessation of violence, which left over 200 dead and nearly 400 injured. Israeli officials said they would expand their operations in Gaza if necessary.

It was "completely unacceptable" that Hamas, which controls Gaza, to attack Israel after several months of truce, said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council.

"These people are thugs, so that Israel will defend his people from Hamas as terrorists who kill indiscriminately to their own people," Johndroe said in Texas, while President George W. Bush spent the holidays at his ranch. "They have to desist. We have said in the past to be decided. You can not have one foot in politics and one foot in terror."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that the operation in Gaza will expand as necessary. Asked if Washington would support further reprisals, Johndroe said: "The United States does not want to see more violence. I think what we see is a Desisting Hamas firing rockets at Israel. That's what precipitated this situation."

At the ranch of Bush, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, informed the president about the situation. Bush received a call from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who wanted to discuss the violence that began eight days after the expiry of a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas.

"The United States strongly condemns the repeated attacks with rockets and mortars against Israel considers Hamas and responsible for the violation of the ceasefire and the resumption of violence in Gaza," Rice said in a statement. "We must immediately renew the ceasefire. The United States calls upon all parties concerned to address the urgent humanitarian needs of innocent people in Gaza."