WarSclerotic

After airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza, Kerry backs Israel’s right to defend itself

Army says it warned residents of Shejaiya to evacuate; US secretary says no nation ‘would sit there while rockets are bombarding it

By Times of Israel staff and AP July 20, 2014, 5:29 pm

via After airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza, Kerry backs Israel’s right to defend itself | The Times of Israel.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel “has every right in the world to defend itself” from attacks by Hamas in Gaza, but the US is working diligently to get an immediate ceasefire in place.

Kerry said Israel long has endured rocket attack by Hamas, and no nation “would sit there while rockets are bombarding it.” He said “thousands of rockets” were being fired at Israel. “People can’t live that way.”

Kerry also cited tunnels constructed by Hamas in what he said is “an obvious effort” to try to kidnap Israelis.

Kerry told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that it is “unacceptable by any standard anywhere in the world” and that Israel must protect its citizens.

Kerry also said he believes that President Barack Obama will want him to return to the Mideast shortly to see if a ceasefire can be put in place.

Israel’s cabinet was set to meet late Sunday to discuss the ongoing ground offensive against Hamas, with no likelihood of a ceasefire seen in the immediate future.

In interviews with US media on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had to stop the rockets and the Hamas tunnels. He said Israel needs “a sustainable ceasefire” and to work for a demilitarized Gaza. Speaking to CNN, Netanyahu said of Hamas: “They want to pile up as many dead civilians as they can… The more dead the better.”

Netanyahu and Kerry were speaking after Israeli strikes on Gaza’s Shejaiya neighborhood killed 60 people, Palestinian medical officials in the Gaza Strip reported.

Israeli officials said Shejaiya is a Hamas stronghold, and that 150 rockets had been launched from that area in the past two weeks, Israel’s Channel 2 said. Israeli military officials said Sunday that they had told civilians to leave the Shejaiya area days ago, ahead of IDF military action.

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