Taher el-Noono, spokesman of Hamas government, said in a statement that “We condemn Michel’s rude statements, which contradicts with the international laws that give the right to occupied nations to defend itself.”

    El-Noono also said Michel’s statements did not hold Israel “guilty for the awful crimes committed against civilians.” The 22-day war left around 14,00 people killed and 5,500 others wounded, as well as 20,000 houses destroyed.

    ”We don’t rule out that Michel made such nasty statements to please his Zionist masters in the United States, apparently he is looking for their satisfaction or for a better diplomatic position,” said el-Noono.

    Michel, who toured the badly damaged enclave of the Gaza Strip on Monday, told a news conference that Hamas “is overwhelmingly responsible for the war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip.”

    ”Launching (homemade) rockets at (Israeli) civilians is a terrorist action, which has to be strongly denounced,” said Michel when touring Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip.

    When inspecting area destroyed by the Israeli army during intensive Israeli offensive, he said “we should also remind that in spite of all of this, Hamas is overwhelmingly responsible for the outcomes.”

    It is the first senior EU official to slam the movement.

    ”I mean here to say that Hamas is a terrorist movement and must be condemned. If we want the EU to encourage a political dialogue that achieves calm and progress, Hamas should accept two conditions,” said Michel.

    ”Hamas has to recognize Israel’s right of return and abandon the armed struggle which basically has terrorist dimensions,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Michel announced that the EU would donate an urgent aid of 60 million euros (78 million dollars) for the Palestinians.

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(http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/27/content_10723544.htm)