Kerry condemns 'outrageous' Palestinian violations of Gaza ceasefire

The United States condemned Friday "in the strongest possible terms" Gaza's attack, deeming it as "was an outrageous violation of the cease-fire negotiated over the past several days, and of the assurances given to the United States and the United Nations."

"Hamas, which has security control over the Gaza Strip, must immediately and unconditionally release the missing Israeli soldier, and I call on those with influence over Hamas to reinforce this message," State Secretary John Kerry said. "After the horrific loss of life in this attack and its aftermath, it would be a tragedy if this outrageous attack leads to more suffering and loss of life on both sides of this conflict."

Kerry stressed that the international community must now redouble its efforts to end the tunnel and rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israel and the suffering and loss of civilian life.