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WASHINGTON, May 15 (KUNA) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the Israeli force's decision to open fire on protesters in Gaza and blamed Hamas for inciting the violence that killed 60 Palestinians and left thousands injured.
In an interview with CBS News Tuesday, Netanyahu said "I don't know of any army that would do anything differently if you had to protect your border against people who say 'We're going to destroy you, and we're going to flood into your country.'
He laid the blame for the gunfire and tear gas that left more than 2,300 civilians in Gaza injured on Hamas, accusing the militant group of pushing civilians into harm's way.
"They're pushing civilians, women, children, into the line of fire with a view of getting casualties. We try to minimize casualties.
They're trying to incur casualties in order to put pressure on Israel, which is horrible," said Netanyahu.
"If Hamas had not pushed them there, then nothing would happen. Hamas holds responsibility for doing this, and they're deliberately doing it."
The sentiment was echoed by the United States on Tuesday, with State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert saying the activities there would "certainly stop if violent protests were to stop."
"We regret the loss of life. We regret the loss of all life," Nauert told reporters in Washington. "People want to blame Israel for all of this that is going on over the past few weeks. We have seen how Hamas continues to insight violence."
"If (Hamas) really wanted peace, if they really wanted peace, they would call for peace and we don't see them doing that," Nauert said.
The violence took place as the US opened its new embassy in Jerusalem, officially recognizing the city as the capital of "Israel".
The move prompted massive protests in the Palestinian State's West Bank and Gaza Strip. (end)
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