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Business News/ News / World/  Obama urges unconditional return of captured Israeli soldier
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Obama urges unconditional return of captured Israeli soldier

Obama says the US stands firmly behind Israel's right to defend itself against attacks by Hamas

US President Barack Obama. Photo: ReutersPremium
US President Barack Obama. Photo: Reuters

Washington: President Barack Obama demanded the unconditional release of an Israeli soldier seized by Hamas and said the US stands firmly behind Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks by the militant group.

The US will try to help both sides restore a three-day truce between Hamas and Israel’s army that unraveled hours after it was set to begin, he said.

“It’s going to be very hard to put a ceasefire back together again if Israelis and the international community can’t feel confident that Hamas will follow through," Obama said at the White House.

Obama also said innocent civilians being caught in the crossfire in Gaza have to be protected. Even so, he said, “Israel is justified in going on the offensive."

“No country can or would tolerate tunnels being dug under their land that would be used to launch terrorist attacks," he said.

More than 1,400 Palestinians and at least 60 Israelis have been killed since the fighting escalated on 8 July.

The US Senate on Friday voted to give Israel $225 million in emergency spending to shore up its Iron Dome missile-defence system. The US House plans to consider the funds on Friday before taking an August recess for the rest of the month. The measure advanced in the Democratically-controlled Senate with the support of Republicans including minority leader Mitch McConnell. Bloomberg

Gopal Ratnam, Terry Atlas and Kathleen Hunter in Washington also contributed to this story.

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Published: 02 Aug 2014, 01:11 AM IST
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