During a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price discussed Israel’s latest all-out assault on the Gaza Strip — dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls — which had begun the previous day and quickly dispensed with thirty Palestinian lives, including ten children.

Asked by a reporter whether the killing of Palestinian children by Israeli airstrikes was “something to condemn,” Price responded in typical State Department style by verbosely not answering the question:

Well — and I said this yesterday, that the loss of innocent life is something that we would — that is deeply regrettable. It is — of course, Israel has the right to defend itself against those attacking Israel, against Hamas and terrorists responsible, including for the loss of life in Israel, but the loss of civilian life in these operations is something that we deeply regret. It is precisely why we have said that, just as the Israelis do, the Palestinians have every right to live in safety and security.