Responsibility for the resumption of hostilities in Gaza lies solely with Hamas, and the United States supports Israel in its next steps, the acting US ambassador to the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Ambassador Dorothy Shea made the statement to a United Nations Security Council briefing after Palestinian health authorities said Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza and killed more than 400 people, ending weeks of relative calm after talks to secure a permanent ceasefire stalled.
“The blame for the resumption of hostilities lies solely with Hamas,” Shea said, charging that the group had refused every proposal and deadline to extend the ceasefire and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.
Shea said US President Donald Trump had made clear that Hamas must release the hostages it is holding immediately or pay a high price.
“We support Israel in its next steps,” she said, while rejecting allegations that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were conducting indiscriminate attacks.
“The IDF is striking Hamas positions,” she said. “It is well known that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure as launching pads, and the United States condemns this practice as should others.”
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Tuesday that the country’s return to fighting in Gaza had been “fully coordinated with Washington” following the deadliest strikes on the territory since a fragile ceasefire took effect in January.
“I can confirm that the return to intense fighting in Gaza has been fully coordinated with Washington. Israel has thanked President (Donald) Trump and his administration for their unyielding support for Israel,” Mencer said at a press briefing.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “Hamas must understand that the rules of the game have changed.”
“If it does not immediately release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open, and it will face the full might of the IDF (military) in the air, sea, and on the ground until its complete destruction,” the Israeli defense chief was quoted as saying in a ministry statement as he visited the Tel Nof airbase.
