United States has been focusing on working towards a ceasefire in Gaza, Jen Psaki, spokesperson of US state department, has said.
At a press briefing in Washington DC, he said: “... our focus continues to be on working towards a cease-fire. Obviously, there were some efforts toward that overnight, and we’re going to stay at it.”
“US secretary of state will remain engaged with the parties, remain engaged with the countries in the region to see if we can return to that,” Psaki added.
Israeli attack on Gaza begun on July 8. According to latest report by the American news agency Associated Press (AP) the attack has left 204 Palestinian dead and some 1,450 wounded.
On the Israeli side, one man was killed and several people were wounded.
Though on Tuesday morning Israel accepted a ceasefire proposal forwarded by Egypt, it resumed attack on Gaza in the afternoon. Hamas had rejected the truce proposal.
At the briefing a journalist blamed US of talking “little” about the Gaza situation.
Referring to the Egypt truce proposal, the US spokesperson said: “... we'll continue to work for a ceasefire.”
“Once this proposal which we welcomed was put forward and we feel is a goodwill effort by the Egyptians and by others to reach a cease-fire, the Israelis welcomed that. The cabinet supported it.”
Recalling Hamas' stance on the truce proposal, Psaki said: “Obviously, we saw the response from Hamas, and our view continues to be that Israel has a right to defend itself.”
But does the US believe that the rejection of the ceasefire offer by Hamas gives Israel “full legitimacy to expand its operation in Gaza?" - asked the journalist at the briefing.
Pskai said: “Well, we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself. That remains the case.”
Yet US' focus continues to be on working towards a cease-fire, he said.
