The White House has acknowledged that Israel has the right to defend itself but asked that Israeli troops make every effort not to harm innocent civilians or damage the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip while it hunts down the militants responsible for the abduction of a 19-year-old soldier during a raid into Israel earlier this week.
'The hostage taking and the attacks by Hamas last weekend have precipitated the current events in Gaza,' explained White House spokesman Tony Snow on Wednesday.
Snow added that 'Israel has the right to defend itself and the lives of its citizens. In any actions the government of Israel may undertake the United States urges that it ensures that innocent civilians are not harmed, and also that it avoid the unnecessary destruction of property and infrastructure.'
Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since Israel dismantled all Gaza settlements and made a unilateral withdrawal from the coastal area last summer. Israel indicated it had no intention of reclaiming Gaza but is seeking to dismantle militant groups who have been using the Gaza Strip to launch rocket and mortar attacks into Israeli towns since the withdrawal was completed.
Snow also called on Hamas to immediately release Corporal Gilad Shalit and to end 'all acts of violence and terror.' He also asked all parties to 'restore the security situation in Gaza.'
The fate of Gilad Shalit remains unknown. French and Egyptian diplomats are reportedly trying to negotiate for Shalit's release. The 19-year-old Shalit holds joint Israeli and French citizenship.
