Deadly violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza intensified Friday, as President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation in the worst fighting since 2014.
“Palestinians — including in Gaza — and Israelis equally deserve to live in dignity, safety and security. No family should have to fear for their safety within their own home or place of worship,” the president said in a statement on Friday marking the Eid holiday and the end of Ramadan.
Israeli forces have been bombing and sending troops and tanks to the Gaza border after militants fired more rockets into Israeli cities.
At least 119 people have been killed, including 31 children, according to officials in Gaza. Eight people have been killed in Israel, including a soldier and some civilians, amid airstrikes and rocket attacks between the Israeli military and militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.
It was the most severe outbreak of violence between Israel and the Palestinians since the 2014 war in Gaza.
“We think most about the children in these societies who face trauma from a conflict far beyond their control,” Biden said. The president added that he will continue to engage Palestinians, Israelis and other regional partners to address the situation.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki at a briefing on Friday said the administration is working toward de-escalating the conflict. “We’re watching this closely, we will remain closely engaged,” she said. “A lot of the conversations we have may be behind the scenes.”
“Israel has the right to self defense,” Psaki continued. “Our focus remains on using every lever at our disposal to de-escalate the situation on the ground.” She added that U.S. humanitarian assistance to Palestinians will continue.
The dramatic escalation followed protests over the potential eviction of Palestinian families from a neighborhood in east Jerusalem by Israel’s Supreme Court. In Jerusalem last Friday, Israeli security forces clashed with stone-throwing Palestinians near Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site in advance of a Monday court hearing in the eviction case.
