This is an entry from: Live: Israel and Hamas claim victory as fragile ceasefire holds
'De-escalation is a smart course of action,' says top US general
18 May 2021 01:53 BST
Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military, backed efforts to end the fighting in Gaza, saying that it is not in anyone's interest to continue the war.
"My assessment is that you risk broader destabilization and you risk a whole series of negative consequences if the fighting continues," Milley told reporters after a Nato meeting in Brussels.
"So in my view, I think de-escalation is a smart course of action at this point for all parties concerned."
His remarks come after US President Joe Biden expressed support for ceasefire efforts without explicitly calling for an end to the fighting. Washington has been blocking a UN Security Council statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.