French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a radio interview that the contacts are aimed at getting a handle on where Hamas, a reputed terrorist group, stands now that it is in charge of Gaza.

"These are not relations; they are contacts," Kouchner said on Europe1 radio. "We are not the only ones to have them. We must be able to talk if we want to play a role."

The New York Times said Paris had concluded that while Hamas wasn't willing to recognize Israel, it was also more "flexible" than before.

The newspaper also noted that the French contacts were likely to irritate Israel and the United States. The Times also said Hamas has tried to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe in the past.