US President George W. Bush said yesterday any cease-fire to end the Gaza crisis must include provisions that prevent Hamas from using the coastal strip to fire rockets into Israel.

"Instead of caring about the people of Gaza, Hamas decided to use Gaza to use rockets to kill innocent Israelis," Mr Bush told reporters after a White House meeting with a Sudanese official. "Israel's obviously decided to protect itself. Any cease-fire must have the conditions in it so that Hamas does not use Gaza as a place from which to launch rockets," Mr Bush added.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had briefed him earlier yesterday on the Gaza situation.

"The US is concerned about the humanitarian crisis. We care about the people of Gaza and therefore have provided millions of dollars of fresh aid to the UN to help," he said.

"All of us of course would like to see violence stop," Mr Bush said, but added that the cessation should not come at the expense of steps needed to prevent a Gaza crisis from recurring.

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