The Islamist Hamas movement on Thursday dismissed US President Barack Obama's expressed concern over Gaza, accusing him of trying to "prettify" Israel's blockade of the territory.
Obama had called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "unsustainable" and pledged 400 million dollars (333 million euros) in aid to the Palestinians on Wednesday during a meeting with Hamas rival Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the remarks were "problematic and empty of meaning because they are part of a US policy to prettify the siege of Gaza."
Israel's closure of Gaza's borders to all but basic goods has provoked international outrage in the wake of its deadly May 31 raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine Turkish activists were killed by naval commandos.
Abu Zuhri said the aid package pledged by Obama was "nothing but a number ... If it comes it will only go to the authorities in Ramallah, who will not send anything to Gaza," he said, referring to Abbas's West Bank government.
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The Islamist movement -- which is sworn to armed struggle and the destruction of the Jewish state -- also lashed out at Abbas for continuing to engage in US-mediated indirect peace talks.
"Abbas's statements that he will stick to negotiations with the Israeli occupation is a treacherous stab in the back of the Palestinian people in light of the massacre of the Freedom Flotilla," he said.
"This is what prettifies the image of the occupation and allows it to continue its criminal policies." Israel and Egypt first imposed the blockade on Gaza when Hamas and other militants captured an Israeli soldier in June 2006.
They tightened it a year later when Hamas seized power after driving out Abbas's forces.
