Waco, Texas: The United States on Saturday urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties in air strikes on Gaza but did not call for an end to the attacks in pursuit of Hamas targets that killed more than 145 people.
The White House said for the violence to end, Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist organisation, must stop rocket attacks into Israel.
"Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Texas where President George W. Bush is on vacation at his ranch.
"Hamas must end its terrorist activities if it wishes to play a role in the future of the Palestinian people," Johndroe said. "The United States urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza."
The Bush administration has typically taken the position that Israel has the right to defend itself.
No chance for Bush peace deal
Bush in November 2007 launched an effort to secure an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of this year but all sides have acknowledged that there is no chance of this happening before he leaves office on January 20.
United Nations: Call to halt violence
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called for an immediate halt to violence in Gaza following Israeli air strikes in retaliation for ongoing rocket attacks against the Jewish state.
Ban "is deeply alarmed by on Saturday's bloodshed in Gaza, and the continuation of violence in southern Israel," a spokesman for the UN secretary-general said in a statement.
