The United States believes that Israel had “the right to defend its people” against Islamist militants, but calls for the protection of civilians, after an Israeli army operation on Monday that left at least eight people dead in the occupied West Bank.
“We support Israel’s security and its right to defend its people against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups,” a US State Department spokesman said. “It is imperative to take all possible precautions to avoid the death of civilians,” added the spokesperson.
Washington, Israel’s main ally, also called for a resumption of security cooperation between the Jewish state and the Palestinian Authority.
At least 185 Palestinians and 25 Israelis killed in 2023
Eight Palestinians were killed and 50 others injured Monday in Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank, in a major Israeli military operation, amid a recent spate of attacks on Israelis and anti-Palestinian violence by Jewish settlers.
Violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed at least 185 Palestinians, 25 Israelis, a Ukrainian and an Italian since the beginning of the year, according to an AFP count established from official sources.