Washington. May 14. INTERFAX-The United States believes that in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Israel has the right to self-defense, and will ensure its military superiority.
During a meeting at the Pentagon, the director of the military-political Department of the Ministry of Defense of Israel, Zohar Palti, and the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs, Colin Colla, the latter "condemned the terrorist attacks directed against Israeli civilians and stressed the support of the United States for Israel's right to self-defense," the US defense Department said in a statement.
Coll stressed the U.S. Department of Defense's" unwavering support for Israel's qualitative military superiority, " as well as the U.S. administration's hope for restoring calm.
US President Joe Biden told reporters that he does not consider Israel's attacks on the positions of the Palestinian movement Hamas in response to rocket attacks on Israeli territory "too sharp".
"The question is how they will get to the point where there will be a significant reduction in attacks, especially rocket attacks, indiscriminately targeting populated areas. Now we are working on it, " he said.
The situation on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip has remained tense for several days in a row. Rocket attacks on the territory of Israel from the Gaza side practically do not stop. The Israel Defense Forces are taking retaliatory action.
According to Israeli media reports, the fighters of the Palestinian movement Hamas on Friday night resumed firing rockets at cities in southern Israel, Hamas claims to have launched 50 rockets.
Sirens warning of an air raid alert were activated in the cities of Ashdod, Beersheba and other cities in southern Israel.
The reports say that the Israeli Air Force on Friday night, together with ground forces, are conducting a massive bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
"The Israel Defense Forces announced that the air force and ground forces are currently conducting strikes on the Gaza Strip," The Times of Israel reports.
The operation involves combat aircraft, helicopters, as well as tanks and artillery.
The publication notes that such attacks can not yet be considered the start of the Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the Israeli TV channel 12, citing high-ranking diplomatic sources, reported that the country's leadership is considering conducting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks on Israel.
According to the source, this possibility was discussed at a recent meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on security issues.
According to the Al Arabiya TV channel, citing informed sources, Israel rejected the request of the Egyptian delegation to reach a humanitarian truce,
