The U.S. Congress approved a $225 million package to replenish Israel's missile defenses Friday, after the Jewish state's cease-fire with Hamas unraveled and Israeli forces pushed deep into Gaza in search of a missing army officer.
The money is directed toward restocking Israel's Iron Dome, which has been credited with shooting down dozens of incoming rockets fired by Palestinian militants over 3½ weeks of war. The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign the bill swiftly into law.
The Israel Defense Forces suspects 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin, 23, was kidnapped and dragged into a Hamas tunnel during a battle that killed two Israeli soldiers. The abduction risks a major escalation in the nearly 4-week-old conflict, considering the extraordinary lengths Israel has gone to get back captured soldiers.
At a White House news conference earlier Friday, Obama reiterated his support for Israel's right to self-defense while urging greater protection for Palestinian civilians. He called for the immediate release of the soldier believed to be captured by Hamas and said it would be hard to put together another cease-fire after a 72-hour humanitarian truce collapsed almost immediately after going into effect Friday morning.
He also cited Iron Dome as a concrete way the U.S. is helping "make sure that Israel is able to protect its citizens."
At least 140 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed Friday. Fighting near the border with Egypt continued into the night, with residents reporting airstrikes and heavy tank and artillery shelling. The Israeli military said it was searching for the missing soldier and sent automated calls or text messages to residents to stay indoors.
Three years ago, Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a captured soldier.
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