Rice: The U.S. Supports Israel ... but the Death Toll Is Rising at an ‘Alarming Pace’

RICE: “Let’s be very clear. The United States fully supports Israel’s right to self-defense. No country can sustain rockets landing on populated areas and tunnels being constructed for the purpose of infiltrating terrorists to conduct kidnapping or murder operations. Having said that, it’s the U.S. view as well, that the death toll, and the civilian toll in Gaza is rising at an alarming pace.

It’s a concern that is grave and deepening on the part of the United States, the American people and the entire international community. And that is why we have urged and we believe it is essential for not only humanitarian, but for strategic purposes, that there be an immediate unconditional humanitarian ceasefire.

That is something that the president discussed, including yesterday with Prime Minister Netanyahu. That’s what Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly told the president he seeks. So we are together in trying to achieve that objective. Obviously, there are two sides to any conflict, and both sides need to decide that it is -- obviously, as it should be -- in the best interest of the people of Gaza and the people of Israel that the fighting cease. That there be an opportunity for the underlying complex issues to be resolved, such as, the need for Gaza to be demilitarized in the context of a conflict settlement for Gaza and the need for there a reconstruction in Gaza, so that the people there can have the opportunity to achieve a better existence.

So these long-term issues need to be addressed and addressed in the context of a sustained ceasefire. Once that’s achieved, short term, though, the imperative -- and this is what secretary Kerry has been working so hard and so well on, on behalf of the president -- what the president has been doing with his engagements is to try to achieve in a very immediate term this humanitarian unconditional ceasefire, so that there can be space for more sustained negotiation over a permanent ceasefire.”