American political commentator and antiwar activist Richard Becker lasts the Donald Trump administration’s “outrageous” statement blaming the Palestinians for the massacre which took place yesterday.
Becker, western regional coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, a protest umbrella group consisting of many antiwar and civil rights organizations, made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Tuesday.
Israeli troops fired indiscriminately on peaceful Palestinian protesters on Monday, killing at least 60 people, including several children, and wounding over 2,700 others.
The Monday protests in Gaza were part of the “March of Return,” which first began on March 30 with the aim of condemning Israel’s occupation and demanding their right to return.
The White House on Monday defended Israel’s deadly crackdown on the protesters in the Gaza Strip, laying the blame on Palestinians for partaking in demonstrations “organized” by the Islamic resistance movement Hamas.
Haley blames Hamas for violence in Gaza
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley also casted blame on Hamas and its supporters. Addressing the UN Security Council, Haley said Hamas was behind the violence.
“Let's remember that the Hamas terrorist organization has been inciting violence for years, long before the United States decided to move our embassy,” she said. “This is what is endangering the people of Gaza. Make no mistake, Hamas is pleased with the results from yesterday.”
Amid the Israeli crackdown on the protests, the US officially announced the opening of its new embassy in Jerusalem al-Quds on Monday.
Becker told Press TV on Tuesday that “it’s a truly outrageous and incredible statement coming from the White House and Nikki Haley, of the United Nations, blaming the Palestinians for the massacre that took place yesterday”
“What did Hamas or the Palestinian leadership have to do with making those kinds of decisions to fire into the crowd of people, to trap in huge amounts of tear gas and people who are fenced in – and I think we have to emphasize – that they are fenced in inside Gaza, the biggest open air prison in the world. Two million people are living there under terrible conditions, and resisting, are trying to find some ways to resist, and to bring to the attention of the world to their condition,” he stated.
“And when they do that and carry out protests in this largest prison, Washington, the Trump administration, and the Trump regime, if you could call it that, say that they are responsible, blame them entirely [for bloodshed], and express support for Israel and the massacres that are carried out,” the analyst noted.