WASHINGTON: The United States has termed a statement by an Israeli minister of dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza unacceptable and asked all sides to avoid hateful rhetoric, Western media reported on Monday.
Earlier Netanyahu’s office had suspended Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu from government meetings until further notice over the remarks.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters that such comments are wholly unacceptable.
He added that the US continues to believe that it is important for all sides of this conflict to refrain from hateful rhetoric as that would further incite tensions.
Israel widely known to possess nuclear weapons
It is pertinent to mention that Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but has never admitted so.
The remarks started an outrage in the Arab world denouncing the Netanyahu government for not dismissing Eliyahu and making such irresponsible remarks.
Read Also: Israel Publicly Lying to Strike at Indonesia Hospital in Gaza: NGO
The Hamas-run health ministry has said that more than 10,000 people have been killed since Israel launched retaliatory strikes, with more than 4,000 of them children.
Israeli airstrikes have hit hospitals, ambulances, schools and refugee camps, as Tel Aviv cut off food, fuel, water and power supplies to Gaza.
