US President Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House at dawn on Monday that Israel is protecting its people from indiscriminate missile attacks by the Islamic Jihad movement, which he called terrorist.
“I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based militants after three days of fighting,” Biden said.
“Over the past 72 hours, the United States has worked with officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and other countries in the region to help bring the conflict to a speedy resolution.
“I thank Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and senior Egyptian officials who have played a central role in this diplomacy, as well as the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his team for helping to end this hostilities,” he said. added.
He stated that his support for Israel’s security is longstanding and unwavering, including its right to defend itself against attacks.
He explained that in recent days, Tel Aviv has defended its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group.
The US president said the United States is proud of its support for Israel’s Iron Dome, which has intercepted hundreds of missiles and saved countless lives, praising Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his government’s unwavering leadership throughout the crisis.
He pointed out that reports of civilian casualties in Gaza are tragic, whether due to Israeli strikes on Islamic Jihad installations or dozens of Islamic Jihad rockets that are said to have landed in Gaza.
He said the US administration supports a full and timely investigation of all these reports and calls on all parties to fully comply with the ceasefire and to ensure the flow of fuel and humanitarian supplies to Gaza as hostilities subside.
He said that during his recent trip to Israel and the West Bank, he made it clear that Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in security and enjoy freedom, prosperity and democracy equally.
“My administration will continue to engage with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to support this vision and implement the initiatives put forward during my visit to improve the quality of life for both Palestinians and Israelis,” he concluded.
Source: White House