By KUNA
Tokyo : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday voiced concerns over the humanitarian conditions and Israeli attacks against Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip, urging the both sides to exert self-restraint in order to end the escalating violence in the territory.
Speaking to reporters after an hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who was also in Japan, Rice said, “I reiterated to Premier Olmert our concerns for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the innocent people who are being hurt.” But she also stressed that Hamas rocket attacks against Israel must stop, saying, “The issue is that the rocket attacks need to stop. We have to remember that the Hamas activities there are responsible for what has happened in Gaza… It is very clear where this started.” According to the secretary, Olmert confirmed his commitment to move forward with peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Their meeting here came after Israeli aircraft struck the office of Gaza’s Hamas government offices on Wednesday night.
Rice is scheduled to visit the region next week to meet with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, hoping to promote the peace talks for an accord that could lead to a Palestinian state in the future.
Rice wrapped up her three-nation Asian tour that also took her to South Korea and China for talks with their leaders to put pressure on North Korea to move ahead quickly with nuclear disarmament that has been stalled for months.