Hamas rejects Carter plea to recognise Israel

Gaza: A senior Hamas official praised former US president Jimmy Carter on Wednesday but said he failed to persuade Hamas to accept international demands.

Carter visited Gaza on Tuesday and urged Hamas leaders to accept the demands to end an international boycott.

Ahmed Youssef, the deputy Hamas foreign minister, said Gaza's Palestinians were pleased to receive Carter but said the former leader's visit made no difference.

"The visit has not led to a significant change. Hamas finds the conditions unacceptable," he said. "Recognising Israel is completely unacceptable."

Youssef said the other two international conditions—renouncing violence and accepting past agreements between Israel and the Palestinians—are irrelevant.