The United States is now the first country with an embassy to Israel located in Jerusalem, the disputed city claimed as a capital by both Israeli and Palestinian people.
The new embassy was dedicated on Monday in a ceremony attended by Israeli leaders and senior White House advisers.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are protesting the move, and dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli armed forces, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Egypt and Jordan have denounced the killings and warned of the risk of escalating violence.
At a White House news conference on Monday afternoon, principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah said the responsibility for the deaths "rests squarely with Hamas," the Palestinian Islamist group.
"Israel has a right to defend itself," Shah said.
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04.29.2024