When asked to condemn the killing of defenseless Palestinian children, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price was visibly uncomfortable during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Following the killing of at least 20 Palestinians as Israel conducted air strikes, Price was reacting to the recent escalation in tensions in the Middle East.
Israel said it had conducted the strikes in response to rockets fired allegedly by Hamas and other groups in Israeli territory.
In his opening statement, Price condemned “the barrage of rocket attacks fired into Israel in recent hours”, adding that the US recognizes Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and to defend its people and its territory.
“It is critical for all sides to ensure calm and de-escalate tensions and avoid violent confrontations, such as the responsible decision to reroute today’s parade.”
He said.
The US state department spokesperson refused to comment on reports that nine Palestinian children were killed in the Israeli airstrikes, instead saying Washington was concerned about the febrile situation in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, including violent confrontations in Jerusalem.
The reporters present during the press briefing, however, didn’t let Price off the hook easily.
A journalist asked the US State Department spokesperson whether he thought Israel’s retaliatory strikes against alleged Hamas targets in Gaza were within the country’s right to self-defense.
“This is a very fluid situation. I would hesitate to comment on operations beyond the rocket fire that is clearly targeting innocent civilians in Israel. So I would hesitate to speak to specific operations that have just occurred, but the broader principle of self-defense is something we stand by on behalf of Israel and every other country.”
Replied the US official.
“Yes. But do you think that Israeli military response to the rockets coming in – a military response to the rockets coming in is covered by this broader rubric of self-defence, right?” prodded the journalist.
In response, Price said self-defence often includes the use of force.
Another reporter asked the US envoy whether Palestinians had the right to self-defence as well. ” Do they have a right to self-defence? Do Palestinians have a right to self-defence?” he asked.
Price said the US believed in the concept of self-defence, adding that every state has the right to it.
“But the Israelis killed 13 people just now, including maybe five or six children. Do you condemn that? Do you condemn the killing of children?”
Pressed the reporter.
Price, visibly uncomfortable, tried to respond: “Saeed —”
“I’m asking: Do you condemn the killing of Palestinian children?” grilled the reporter, again.
“Obviously – and these reports are just emerging. And I understand – I was just speaking to the team.”
Said Price.
“I understand we don’t have independent confirmation of facts on the ground yet, so I’m very hesitant to get into reports that are just emerging.
“Obviously, the deaths of civilians, be they Israeli or Palestinians, are something we would take very seriously.”
He said.
When told that the Israeli Supreme Court ruling on the Sheikh Jarrah evictions was “absurd”, Price said the US had called on the Jewish state to treat the Palestinians with “compassion and with humanity in this case”.
