US President, Joe Biden yesterday asserted that Israelis ‘had the right to defend themselves’ against Hamas attacks following a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, he said he hoped both sides work towards de-escalating as soon as possible.
The US President, speaking for the first time since clashes began on Monday, said after a phone call with the Israeli leader: ‘My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.’
Mr. Biden’s comments came as Israel faced an escalating conflict on two fronts on Thursday, scrambling to quell riots between Arabs and Jews on its own streets after days of exchanging deadly fire with Palestinian militants in Gaza.
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The President’s top diplomat, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, earlier said there was a ‘clear distinction’ between Hamas rocket launches against Israel and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, appearing to back the Jewish state in the escalating conflict.
‘There is a very clear and absolute distinction between a terrorist organisation, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets – in fact, targeting civilians – and Israel’s response defending itself,’ said Mr. Blinken.
Mr. Blinken went further to posit that the US would be sending an envoy to the Middle East to try and calm tensions in Israel and Gaza.
He also said Israel ‘has an extra burden’ to try to prevent civilian deaths, noting that Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli strikes.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said 69 Palestinians, including 16 children and six women have been killed. Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of seven militants, while Hamas acknowledged that a top commander and several other members were killed.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
