Hamas official Yusuf Ravkah, advisor to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, said Wednesday that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed on a message from U.S. President Barack Obama to the terrorist group in his visit to Gaza on Tuesday. Obama said he had different policies from the former U.S. administrations, while Carter claimed he would work to bridge the differences between the U.S. and Hamas, according to the Arab Al-Hiyat newspaper.

Carter said during his visit to Gaza that he was saddened by the destruction from Operation Cast Lead but also worried by Hamas’ firing of thousands of rockets at Israel. He passed on a letter for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and said he got the impression that Shalit is alive and well. Some reports indicated that a fringe terrorist group made an attempt on Carter’s life which was foiled by Hamas security forces.