( CNN ) -- An audio message reportedly from al Qaeda 's deputy chief vows revenge for Israel 's air and ground assault on Gaza and calls the Jewish state 's actions against Hamas militants `` a gift '' from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama . Al Qaeda 's Ayman al-Zawahiri is said to address Muslims in Gaza in an audio message released Tuesday . The speaker , identified as Ayman al-Zawahiri , addresses Muslims in Gaza . He said the violence `` is one part of a series of a crusade war against Islam and these air strikes are a gift from Obama before he takes office , and ( Egyptian President ) Hosni Mubarak , that traitor , is the main partner in your siege and killing . '' The message , posted Tuesday on various Islamist Web sites with a picture of al-Zawahiri next to an image of a wounded child , urges militants to rally against Israel . `` My Muslim brothers and mujahedeens in Gaza and all over Palestine , with the help of God we are with you in the battle , we will direct our strikes against the crusader Jewish coalition wherever we can . '' The 10-minute message also address Muslims worldwide , claiming that Obama was portrayed as `` the savior who will come and change American policy '' during the U.S. election but is now `` killing your brothers and sisters in Gaza without mercy or even pity . '' Obama 's transition team did not immediately respond to the message . Earlier Tuesday , the president-elect said he was `` deeply concerned '' about the loss of life in Gaza and Israel , and he promised to make the issue a top priority in his administration . It was Obama 's first public reaction to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza , which began with Israeli air strikes 11 days ago . He reiterated that only one president can speak for the United States at a time . `` Starting at the beginning of our administration , we are going to engage effectively and consistently to try to resolve the conflicts that exist in the Middle East , '' Obama said . CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson said the al Qaeda message speaks to al-Zawahiri 's cause in two ways : It bashes the new U.S. president before he takes office and it criticizes Mubarak , who has drawn al-Zawahiri 's ire for not allowing goods and aid through Egypt 's border with Gaza . Al-Zawahiri is a native of Egypt who has served jail time there . Robertson , who is reporting from the Israeli-Gaza border , noted on CNN 's `` Situation Room '' that al-Zawahiri got the message out quickly -- `` within 12 days , that 's very fast . '' He said that indicated `` there 's many issues there that are dear to him . ''
Ten-minute message delivered by Ayman al-Zawahiri , a native of Egypt . In address , al-Zawahiri says violence a `` gift '' from Obama before he takes office . The message , on various Islamist Web sites , urges militants to rally against Israel . Score: 6