US Expresses Deep Concern over Israel-Palestinian Violence

The United States expressed its deep concern about the high levels of violence in Israel and Palestine – including violence in Gaza that resulted in the temporary closure of the Erez crossing.

In her remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "We express our condolences for those injured or killed in the past month across Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza."

She continued: "The United States welcomes all efforts to de-escalate the ongoing violence and we call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further inflames the tensions – including hateful rhetoric, settlement activity, evictions, the demolition of Palestinian homes, terrorism, incitement to violence, and payments to the families of terrorists."

On the topic of hateful rhetoric, Linda reiterated that the U.S. condemns President Abbas’s blatantly antisemitic remarks in August, which wrongly maligned the Jewish people and distorted the Holocaust. 

"These kinds of divisive and hateful remarks only undermine prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians," she noted.