US Office for Palestinian Affairs called for Israelis to ‘refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks’ in now deleted post
US Office of Palestinian Affairs urged Israelis to ‘refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks’ in now-deleted post
- The post said: ‘we call on all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks.’
- The office, despite removing the message later, was hacked
- The account reposted the statement from Foreign Minister Antony Blinken
The US Office of Palestinian Affairs called on Israelis to ‘refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks’ after Hammas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday that killed nearly 300 – then deleted the post on social media.
“We unequivocally condemn the attack by Hamas terrorists and the loss of life suffered,” the office wrote in a social media post.
‘We call on all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing,’ it continued on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The office, despite the message being later deleted, was hacked on Saturday.
One asked on X: ‘Why is @JoeBiden administration telling Israel not to respond to the horrific evil perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists?’
The user switched back to the office’s post, which is now no longer available.
The US Office of Palestinian Affairs called on Israelis to ‘refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks’ and deleted the post
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing nearly 300
At least 1,100 people were wounded in the conflict in Israel alone
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his country is ‘at war’ with Palestinian militants
Dozens of users hacked the office (pictured) and responded below the subsequent post with screenshots of the deleted message
The office later said: ‘The US Embassy is closely monitoring the security situation due to rockets fired from Gaza over southern and central Israel.’
Dozens of users responded under the subsequent post with screenshots of the deleted message and asked: ‘Why did you delete this?’
One wrote: ‘You are disgraceful and should be shut down immediately.’
“Whoever put this out should be out of a job right now,” said another.
The account also reposted Secretary Antony Blinken’s post condemning the Palestinian militants’ attack on Israel.
“We unequivocally condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel and express our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,” the statement read.
Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis in southern Saturday, October 7, 2023
Cars on fire after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7
Palestinians drive an Israeli military jeep in the streets of Gaza during the storming of Israeli settlements by the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam militia, the military wing of Hamas, October 7, 2023
Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Early Saturday, Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, striking by land, air and sea.
Hamas, the de facto ruling authority of the Gaza Strip, claims to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Shocking new footage that emerged this afternoon showed bloodied and bruised women being marched into vehicles full of male fighters, often with their hands tied behind their backs.
The killing of civilians drew widespread condemnation from world leaders and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the country was at ‘war’.