US condemns attack, urges both sides to avoid escalation

The United States condemns what it says is a “vicious terrorist attack” after suspected Jewish settlers burned a Palestinian family’s home, killing an 18-month-old baby.

A statement from the US State Department urges Israel to “apprehend the murderers” and called on both sides to “avoid escalating tensions in the wake of this tragic incident.”

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner says Washington “condemns in the strongest possible terms last night’s vicious terrorist attack in the Palestinian village of Duma.

“We convey our profound condolences to the Dawabsha family and extend our prayers for a full recovery to those injured,” he adds.

Toner says the US welcomes “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s order to Israel’s security forces to use all means at their disposal to apprehend the murderers for what he called an act of terrorism and bring them to justice.”

— AFP