The United States is making efforts to realize a ceasefire in Gaza that ought to be "durable and sustainable," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday.
However, Rice said that she had no plan to travel to the Middle East at this point to try to mediate the fighting between Israel and Hamas, which is ruling Gaza.
"We are working toward a ceasefire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo and where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza," Rice said after briefing President George W. Bush on the Gaza crisis.
"Obviously, the United States is very concerned about the situation there and is working very hard with our partners around the world to address it," Rice said, noting that President Bush had been in touch with major leaders of the Arab states and with the Israelis over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Asked if she planned to visit the Middle East to seek an end to the crisis, Rice replied: "I have no plans at this point."
On Saturday Rice issued a statement to condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for the new violence in Gaza.
In reprisal strikes, Israeli warplanes have been bombing Hamas targets in Gaza since Saturday. The death toll on the Palestinian side has so far exceeded 400, and some 2,000 people have been injured in the ongoing air strikes.