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As violence rages on the Middle East, U.S. President Barack Obama in Thailand defended Israel's right to protect itself.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:
"There's no country on Earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders. So we are fully supportive of Israel's right to defend itself from missiles landing on peoples homes and workplaces and potentially killing civilians."
At least 11 Palestinian civilians, including four children, were killed on Sunday in what Hamas said was an Israeli air strike on a Gaza apartment building. It was highest death toll in a single incident in five days of fighting.
Israel signaled that it may launch a ground invasion of the Hamas-run enclave as the next stage of its offensive. Israel has said it hopes to stop Palestinian rocket fire into the Jewish state, as well as spell out its conditions for a truce.
