John Kerry caught on hot mic talking about conflict in Israel

WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was confronted by Fox News' Chris Wallace after he was caught speaking on a hot mic about the conflict in Gaza as he was preparing for an interview.

Kerry has been making the rounds through the media circuit to speak about the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Minutes before an interview on Fox News Sunday, the secretary of state was recorded talking about Israel's assault on Gaza with a top aide.

"It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," Kerry told the unidentified aide, presumably referring to the Israeli airstrike on Gaza.

"It's escalating significantly and underscored the need for a ceasefire." the aide responded.

"We've got to get over there...I think we ought to go tonight," Kerry said. "It's crazy to be sitting around."

Wallace played the clip for Kerry and asked if his comments indicated that he thought the Israelis were "going too far."

"It's very difficult in these situations," said Kerry, reaffirming that the United States supports Israel's right to defend itself. "I reacted, obviously, in a way that anybody does in respect to young children and civilians."

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement to the Washington Post that they will not comment on Kerry's private conversation, but reiterated that his comments were consistent with previous statements he has made during interviews on the topic.

Kerry departed for Cairo Sunday in an attempt to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.