WASHINGTON
The US said Monday it would not halt support to a Gaza humanitarian aid initiative despite Israel's acknowledgment that civilians were harmed in strikes near aid distribution centers.
Responding to questions at a daily press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce rejected the idea of reconsidering US assistance to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), saying: "Well, I think the answer to that certainly is no."
"The IDF and Israel have announced that they are, of course, investigating certain incidents," she said.
"It is a good time for a reminder here that Hamas is responsible for the current situation in Gaza," she added.
Her comments came the same day the Israeli military admitted that civilians had been harmed at distribution sites in Gaza, stating that its forces had received new instructions.
Since June 17, at least 580 Palestinians have been killed either trying to reach Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution points or waiting for other aid convoys, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari told the UN Security Council on Monday, citing Gaza's Ministry of Health.
Bruce said that the GHF has distributed around 51 million meals across four sites in Gaza.
"It is certainly not easy. There are efforts and those on the ground who do not want this to be a success, who have made the lives of the people of Gaza miserable for decades now," she said.
"We also, of course, decry loss of life and the violence that continues, but that's why we do what we do, and we continue to work for a ceasefire as well," she added.
Bruce added that Israel was "doing the appropriate thing" by investigating the incidents and that the US would be “watching that.”