The indiscriminate rocket and missile fire at cities in Israel, the discovery of tunnels posing a grave threat to the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, the fact that the Israeli government showed restraint and repeated willingness to accept a ceasefire in the middle of the conflict, and the broad support for Israel in both the Congress and among US public opinion led the Obama administration to support steadfastly, continuously, and unequivocally Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. At the same time, the administration qualified its support of Israel by demanding that the military operation be restricted to removal of the threat posed by the missiles and tunnels, and that severe harm to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip be avoided.
