LOC23:12
20:12 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 22 (KUNA) -- The US found the UN Relief and Work Agency's (UNRWA) handling of the rockets found in a Gaza school to be unacceptable after the group asked local police to remove them.
"This was not an acceptable outcome, and we are consulting closely with UN leadership, with UNRWA, the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to develop better options available in the event of future incidents," said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf to reporters Tuesday.
The US believes the local police are controlled by Hamas to which Harf added that the, "UNRWA gave these missiles back to their owners, back to Hamas."
In terms of the rising death toll in Gaza, Harf noted Israel "could maybe take some greater steps" and "could do a bit more" to restrain itself from civilian casualties.
She again reiterated, "Having said that, Israel has a right to defend itself, that's what they are doing in this case." (end)
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