U.S. President George Bush spoke with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday and offered him words of encouragement in light of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Bush backed Israel’s demand that a ceasefire would only take place once Hamas stops firing rockets towards Israeli towns. Nonetheless, the President requested that Israel make an effort in ending the conflict in Gaza.

“I think President Bush thinks that Hamas needs to stop firing rockets, and that is what will be in the first steps, in a ceasefire,” presidential spokesman Gordon Johndroe stated. “Hamas needs to agree not only to stop firing rockets now but to not fire any rockets in the future, stop smuggling weapons in, so they don’t even have the ability to fire rockets, which also shows a good intent that they don’t intend to continue to target Israel. So I think they’re certainly on the same page on that.”

Commenting on President Bush’s desire to “end the violence,” Johndoe added, “We want to see a ceasefire that’s durable and lasting and the most important thing is that Hamas respect it.”