Biden administration “deeply concerned” by high number of casualties in Israeli anti-terror raid
The U.S. Biden administration expressed “deep concern” over the number of Arabs killed and wounded during an Israeli anti-terrorism raid on Wednesday in Nablus, a West Bank city known as a center of anti-Israel terrorism.
At least 11 Palestinians were killed and approximately 100 reportedly wounded during a firefight between Israeli forces and armed Palestinian terrorists in the Old City of Nablus.
The firefight broke out after Israeli forces came to arrest terrorists belonging to the local Lion’s Den terror group who refused to put down their weapons.
The Israel Defense Forces described the raid as a necessary operation to prevent further terror attacks against Israelis.
During a press briefing, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the Biden administration “is extremely concerned by the levels of violence in Israel and the West Bank.” Price stressed the dead and wounded included both “militants and civilian bystanders.”
“We wish a speedy recovery to those injured and our hearts go out to the families of the innocent bystanders who were killed today,” added Price.
The U.S. State Department official stressed that Washington “recognize[s] the very real security concerns facing Israel,” however, also emphasized that the U.S. is also “deeply concerned with the large number of injuries and the loss of civilian lives.”
Looking ahead, Price articulated concerns that the growing violence would complicate the already fragile path towards a peaceful reconciliation between the two sides in the Middle East.
“We are deeply concerned that the impact of today’s raid could set back efforts aimed at restoring calm for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
