US says 'Israel has a right to go after Hamas' after Rafah massacre

A White House National Security Council spokesperson commented on the Israeli strike on displaced Palestinians that killed 45 people, saying that while Israel should "take every precaution" to protect civilians, Israel "has a right to go after Hamas".

"Israel has a right to go after Hamas, and we understand this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who are responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians," the spokesperson said, as reported by Reuters.

"We are actively engaging the IDF and partners on the ground to assess what happened, and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation.

"The spokesperson referred to the footage that came out of the strike - which included a baby whose head was severed from its body - as "devastating".