US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday issued a statement voicing support for Israeli strikes in Gaza , in which top Islamic Jihad terrorists were eliminated, marking the start of Operation Shield and Arrow. “Israel has taken necessary action against terrorist leaders in the Gaza Strip to protect its citizens and maintain national security. Such Iran-controlled terrorists pose a direct threat not only to Israel but also to the safety and security of the American people,” said Cruz. “The government of Israel has the responsibility and obligation to defend its citizens, and I stand with our ally as it confronts those who seek chaos and destruction. The United States must continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself, and ensure it has the military resources and diplomatic support it needs,” he added. “Our partnership with Israel is built on shared interests, and together we must confront terrorists that threaten our nations and American interests in the Middle East and beyond,” concluded the Senator. Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said it was closely following Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said Washington is also aware of reports that 10 civilians were "tragically killed" in the strikes. "We call for all parties to deescalate the situation," said the spokesperson, according to the Reuters news agency. "Israel has the right to protect itself and defend its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by terrorist groups," added the spokesperson. Related articles: Man whose wife was killed by rocket dies 'of heartbreak' 'Israel and Islamic Jihad should both be probed for war crimes' 'Our commanders were eliminated because they were negligent' The rules have changed, Israel now proactive against Arab terror The comments are similar in nature to the statement issued earlier by the US embassy in Jerusalem, which said, "We are closely following Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that killed three leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israel has the right to protect itself and its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by terrorist groups. We are also aware of reports that 10 civilians were tragically killed in the Israeli strikes. We call for all parties to de-escalate the situation." The embassy’s statement was an amendment to an earlier statement , which did not include the sentence about Israel's right to defend itself, though it did contain a sentence reiterating that America's "commitment to Israel's security remains ironclad."
