Biden: Israel has the right to defend itself

US President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the ongoing escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reports


The White House chief said he had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I recently had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu, we will be releasing a statement to that effect shortly. My expectation and hope is that there will be a reduction in violence sooner rather than later”, –  Biden said.

The American president also stressed that the Jewish state “is under attack with thousands of rockets” and Israel “has a right to defend itself” in the current situation. Biden stressed that US national security and defence officials are in “constant contact with their counterparts in the Middle East”.