Washington, Aug 13 (EFE).- United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday expressed hope that an eventual ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip would deter Iran from attacking Israel.
“That’s my expectation,” Biden told reporters in New Orleans, Louisiana, responding to a question about whether he believed that an Iranian attack on Israel could be avoided if a ceasefire was achieved.
Though he reiterated his commitment to bringing an end to the hostilities, Biden warned that reaching a ceasefire agreement was “getting harder.”
“We’ll see what Iran does and we’ll see what happens if there is any attack. But I’m not giving up,” he said.
The US president’s statements come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where Iran is expected to attack Israel in retaliation for the assassination of two leaders from Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas, and Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, last month.
Hamas launched two rockets from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, one of which fell into the sea off Tel Aviv, the Israeli military reported.
The Israeli military said it was on high alert because of the possibility of an imminent attack by Iran and its allied militias in the region.
The latest rocket attack occurred on the same day that the US government approved a $20 billion arms sale to Israel, which includes 50 F-15 fighter planes that will be delivered in 2029.
The US, Egypt, and Qatar are scheduled to mediate a meeting on Thursday to try to resume negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire, as well as the release of hostages taken by the Palestinian group during its attack on Israeli territory on Oct.7, 2023. EFE
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