The United States condemns the rocket fire by Hamas into Israel, and says it is concerned for civilians on both sides, after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 16 people.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest also urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep a diplomatic channel open with the Palestinians to resolve the crisis sparked by the murders of three Israeli teenagers and a Palestinian youth.
“We strongly condemn the continuing rocket fire into Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians by terrorist organizations in Gaza,” Earnest says.
The spokesman also backs the Jewish state’s right to respond to the attacks.
“No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians, and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks,” he says. At the same time, Earnest says Washington is mindful of the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas.
“This means both the residents of southern Israel who are forced to live under rocket fire in their homes and the civilians in Gaza who are subjected to the conflict because of Hamas’ violence,” he says.
— AFP
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