US: Israel using 'excessive force' against Palestinians

US State Department spokesman John Kirby (AFP photo)

The United States says credible reports indicate that the Israeli regime has been using excessive force against Palestinian protesters in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

“We’re always concerned about credible reports of excessive use of force against civilians, and we routinely raise our concerns about that,” said US State Department spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday.

"Now, we have seen some - I wouldn't call the checkpoints this - but we've certainly seen some reports of what many would consider excessive use of force,” he added.

Kirby said the department had reviewed the October 9 violence as an "act of terrorism". An incident during which an Israeli stabbed four Palestinians in town of Dimona.

Kirby said Secretary of State of John Kerry “wants both sides to take the affirmative actions, both in rhetoric and in action, to deescalate the tensions, to restore calm, and to try to move forward toward a two-state solution."

Kerry is scheduled to travel to the Middle East soon to try to calm the violence.

At least 32 Palestinians were killed in the past two weeks of bloodshed. The recent violence was triggered after Israel set up roadblocks in Palestinian neighborhoods of Israeli-occupied East al-Quds on August 26, to put restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site and is also highly respected by Jews and Christians.

The White House statement, however, drew sharp criticism from senior Israeli officials on Thursday.

Israel's minister of military affairs Moshe Yaalon accused Washington of "misreading" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also called the remarks "foolish".

 


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