White House Expresses Concern Over Strike on UN Facility but Avoids Assigning Blame
The White House has issued a rare statement addressing an individual strike in the Gaza Strip, expressing concern over the loss of life in a strike on a UN facility on Wednesday that reportedly killed at least nine people and injured 75.
The facility in the southern city of Khan Yunis was being used as a shelter by about 800 people and was clearly marked as a UN facility, the United Nations has said. The Israeli military has denied responsibility for the strike and has said it is investigating whether an errant Hamas or Islamic Jihad rocket was responsible.
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The statement by US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson avoided attributing blame for the strike. It expressed concern over the losses of innocent lives and reiterated the US’s “unwavering” support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorists who hide among the civilian population, while repeating that Israel has a duty to protect civilians.
“We are gravely concerned by reports today of strikes hitting a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facility, with subsequent reports of fires in the building, in a neighborhood in southern Gaza where more than 30,000 displaced Palestinians had reportedly been sheltering,” the statement said.
“While we don’t yet have all the details on what happened and will continue to seek further information regarding today’s incidents, the loss of every innocent life is a tragedy. This conflict has already resulted in the devastating deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, and we mourn every single civilian life that has been lost. It’s heartbreaking to see children killed, injured, and orphaned,” it said.
“The United States is unwavering in our support for Israel’s right to defend itself, consistent with international humanitarian law, against Hamas terrorists who hide among the civilian population and want to annihilate the State of Israel. But Israel retains a responsibility to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel and sites. And, as President [Joe] Biden has been clear from the earliest days of this crisis, the United States will also continue working to increase life-saving humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to bring home all of the hostages held there.”
