Anadolu Agency's office attack skipped in US statement

WASHINGTON

A fresh statement by the U.S. State Department made no mention of Israeli attack on a building that homed Anadolu Agency's office in Gaza Strip, while throwing its support behind Tel Aviv.

The U.S. "strongly condemns the ongoing barrage of rocket attacks by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Gaza upon innocent civilians and their communities across Israel," State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

However, the statement fell short of comments criticizing Israeli military for targeting a media building.

The attack came after Word Freedom Press Day, May 3.

"We call on those responsible for the violence to cease this aggression immediately. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to self defense against these abhorrent attacks," read the statement.

Israeli warplanes hit the building with at least five missiles after warning shots, Anadolu Agency’s correspondent in Jerusalem reported.

No injuries or death were reported.

The strikes occurred following reports that two Israeli soldiers had been injured by gunfire near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone on Friday.

At least four Palestinians were killed when Israeli warplanes struck Hamas positions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.