Biden praises Israel for saving ‘countless lives’

US President Joe Biden has commended the Israeli government for defending its people and saving “countless lives” during Operation Breaking Dawn against Gaza militants. Three days of tit-for-tat strikes left the leadership of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) decimated and dozens of Palestinians dead, before a shaky truce came into effect on Sunday night.

“My support for Israel’s security is long-standing and unwavering — including its right to defend itself against attacks,” the US leader said in a statement on Sunday night, as the ceasefire appeared to be holding despite a hectic start.

Just minutes after the truce went into effect at 11:30pm local time, several rockets were reportedly fired from Gaza and intercepted by the Israeli defenses. No one has taken responsibility for the attack and the IDF reported no strikes in response.

“Over these recent days, Israel has defended its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the United States is proud of our support for Israel’s Iron-Dome, which intercepted hundreds of rockets and saved countless lives,” Biden added.

READ MORE: Israel blames Gaza rocket misfire for child deaths

According to Israeli defense officials, over the course of the conflict, PIJ militants launched over 850 rockets at Israel. The IDF says 97% of the projectiles were intercepted mid-air by the Iron Dome missile defense systems, while “120+ rockets landed in Gaza and killed innocent Palestinians.” 

Palestinian officials say that at least 41 people have been killed in Gaza since Friday – among them six children – while more than 265 have been wounded. Israel has denied responsibility for at least nine of these deaths, which the IDF blamed on a Palestinian rocket that fell short after launch.

Biden called reported civilian deaths in Gaza a “tragedy” and urged a “timely and thorough investigation.” No casualties on the Israeli side have been reported.

READ MORE: Leadership of Gaza’s Islamic Jihad eliminated – Israel

The flare-up of tensions began last Monday, after Israel arrested Islamic Jihad’s West Bank leader, Bassem Saadi. A Palestinian teenager was killed during the raid on Saadi’s home. Amid an outcry among Palestinians, the PIJ threatened retaliation and placed its fighters in Gaza on high alert.

On Friday, the IDF launched Operation Breaking Dawn, citing the “imminent threat of attack against Israeli civilians posed by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.” The first strikes killed a senior PIJ commander, Taysir al-Jabari, and by Sunday “essentially, all of the senior officials of Gaza’s Islamic Jihad have been eliminated,” according to the Israeli military.

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