US urges Israel not to use collective punishment

The US expressed its hope, yesterday, that Israel would not punish innocent Palestinians collectively after the shooting carried out by two Palestinians in Tel Aviv. The attack resulted in the death of four and wounded nine others.

US State Department spokesman Mark  Toner said that the position adopted by the Israeli authorities after the shooting is “an internal affair” but “it must be implemented in a manner that does not harm innocent Palestinians”, referring to the Israeli army’s revocation of entry permits granted to dozens of Palestinians.

“We understand the Israeli government’s desire to protect its citizens … and we strongly support that right, but we would hope that any measures it takes are designed to also take into consideration the impact on Palestinian citizens that are trying to go about their daily lives,” he added.

In response to the shooting in Tel Aviv, the Israeli security cabinet met issued a series of measures yesterday, including completely sealing off Yatta, a village in the southern occupied West Bank from which the two Palestinian gunmen came, as well as revoking the work permits of members of the shooters’ extended families.