Ground Report

Hamas has warned new US President Barack Obama of his current position toward the Palestinians, saying it will bring nothing but failure. "Obama’s position toward the Palestinians does not represent change and will lead to the same mistakes as his predecessor," Beirut-based Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said Thursday. Hamdan’s comments came as Obama made his first public comments on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis since his inauguration on January 20. He told al-Jazeera television that Obama will experience failure in the region over the next four years if he sticks with his current position. On Thursday, President Obama called on Israel and Hamas to take steps aimed at ensuring that the cease fire that is in place in the Gaza Strip will endure. "Hamas must end rocket fire at Israel, and Israel must complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza," he said He also voiced support of his administration for a ‘credible’ system of what he called ending smuggling into Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal on Wednesday called for the opening of the Rafah crossing that Egypt has closed and has enabled Israel to lay a full siege on the coastal sliver. "I tell European nations…three years of trying to eliminate Hamas is enough. It is time for you to deal with Hamas, which has gained legitimacy through struggle," Mashaal said in a televised speech. Israel ended its major operations in Gaza and announced a unilateral ceasefire after having killed 1,330 Palestinians and wounding 5,450 others. The majority of the victims were civilians.