By Xinhua
Gaza : U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the Middle East is not unwelcome as it serves the aim of preventing Arab countries from responding to the help appeals from the Gaza Strip, Hamas said on Tuesday.
“Rice’s gloomy visit comes to rein in the state of solidarity among the Palestinian people,” said Hamas’ spokesman Fawzi Barhoom, adding that “it also comes to give more support to the Israeli occupation to commit new massacres.”
Israel killed over 120 Palestinians during a fierce offensive launched into Gaza since Wednesday. Israel says the attacks were meant to stop the Palestinian rocket fire into its territories.
Rice is to arrive at West Bank city of Ramallah later on Tuesday and hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who suspended the newly revived peace talks with Israel as a protest against the Israeli military operations in Gaza.
“Rice is unwelcome since the U.S. administration was a direct partner with the occupation,” Barhoom said, calling on Abbas “not to deal with the U.S. pressure and take more firm stances by cutting all forms of negotiations with the occupation.”