LOC09:12
06:12 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 31 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon regarding the situation in Gaza, the Pentagon announced late Wednesday.
The Pentagon said in a statement that "Ya'alon thanked Secretary Hagel for his support for the defense of Israel, particularly Iron Dome which is continuing to save countless Israeli lives."
Hagel reiterated "the United States' support for Israel's security and its right to defend itself."
Hagel also expressed "the United States' continued concern about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and loss of Israeli lives, as well as the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza."
The statement noted that Hagel "stressed the need for a humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement."
He also reaffirmed "the U.S. view that any process to resolve the crisis in Gaza in a lasting and meaningful way must lead to the disarmament of Hamas and all terrorist groups." (end)
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