U.S. keeps blame centered on Hamas


January 4, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration on Saturday put blame for the more than week-old onslaught in the Gaza Strip squarely on Hamas militants, but did not mention the invasion of Israeli ground troops into Gaza and avoided any criticism of Israel despite mounting world outrage over the growing death toll.

A State Department official said the U.S. is working toward a cease-fire but provided no details on how this can be accomplished because the U.S. does not talk to Hamas.

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