Obama monitoring Gaza conflict from Hawaii

Washington, Dec 28 (ANI): President-elect Barack Obama is keeping an eye from Hawaii on the latest Israel-Hamas conflict.

"President-elect Obama is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza, but there is one president at a time," said Brooke Anderson, Obama's chief national security spokesperson, CBS News reported.

According to an Obama transition aide, the president-elect discussed the Mideast situation today with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"They discussed the situations in Gaza and in South Asia. The president-elect appreciated the call and the information from Secretary Rice. He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events. The call lasted approximately eight minutes and was initiated by the president-elect," the aide said.

Obama will be receiving an intelligence briefing today and the White House will stay in touch with the transition team, according to White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe, CBS News reported.

"Hamas must stop launching rockets into Israel. The United States holds Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire," Johndroe said in a statement today about the Mideast situation. "Now the ceasefire should be restored immediately."

He also urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties. "We want the ceasefire to be restored, but we understand that Israel is reacting to the hundreds of rockets that have been fired upon the innocent people of Israel over the last few days," he said

In July 2008 Obama gave an indication of his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, CBS News reported.

Asked by the New York Times whether Israel should negotiate with Hamas in Gaza, he replied, "I don't think any country would find it acceptable to have missiles raining down on the heads of their citizens." (ANI)