State Department fails to mention Israel's deadly attack on Gaza

State Department Spokesman Ned Price condemned the Hamas movement for shooting several missiles into Israel earlier on Monday, but failed to mention Israel's deadly air strikes in the Gaza Strip, which killed at least 20 people, including nine children. 

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms the barrage of rocket attacks fired into Israel in recent hours. This is an unacceptable escalation," Price said during a news briefing. "While we urge de-escalation on all sides, we also recognise Israel's legitimate right to defend itself and to defend its people and its territory." 

Price went on to say that "self-defence often does authorise the use of force", but refused to acknowledge whether Palestinians also have a right to self-defence.

He also declined to explicitly say that the US is calling on Israel to halt evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, instead reiterating "concerns". 

'Self-defence often does authorise the use of force'

- US State Department Spokesman Ned Price

During the briefing, he called for "all sides" to "ensure calm and de-escalate tensions and avoid violent confrontations".

"The United States will remain fully engaged, to promote calm in Jerusalem, and we welcome the steps the Israeli government has taken in recent days aimed at avoiding provocations, including the decision to avoid confrontations during the Jerusalem Day commemoration, and the delay in the decision regarding the Sheikh Jarrah evictions," he said.

Asked whether he agrees with Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib's description of the displacement campaign as ethnic cleansing, Price said: "When it comes to the terminologies, that's nothing that we have used before, that's not something that our analysis supports."