WASHINGTON - The United States blamed Hamas Thursday for the violence ravaging the Gaza Strip and praised Israel for showing restraint so far in face of a barrage of rocket attacks.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert early Thursday as well as Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to discuss the situation directly with them, a spokesman said.
"We want to see a reduction in violence. We want to see restraint by all sides," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
But he added that "Israel has the right to defend itself and it has exercised great restraint in the face of these rocket attacks."
"As a government certainly we do not want to see innocent civilians caught in a crossfire, but let's remember where the violence began.
"And it began with Hamas-related forces attacking their fellow Palestinians and groups ... engaged in the rocket launches."
Warring Palestinian factions divided between Islamists and Fatah security services loyal to Abbas clashed again Thursday in the Gaza Strip for the fifth day.
The violence shattered the latest truce aimed at ending the deadly violence that has raised the spectre of all-out civil war and left 47 Palestinians dead.
US President George W. Bush added his voice to international concern saying he and visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair were worried about the clashes and appealed to all parties there to work for peace.
"We're concerned about the violence we see in Gaza. We strongly urge the parties to work toward a two-state solution," Bush said.
Israel also bombed Hamas targets in Gaza Thursday, as Palestinian security sources said about 15 Israeli tanks had advanced into the Gaza Strip near the former settlement of Dugit.
The Israeli strikes have killed another seven Palestinians and wounded several dozen since the start of the clashes.
05/17/2007 16:52 GMT