John Kerry Was Just Caught on a Hot Mic Saying Something 'Extraordinary' About Israel

During a fast-paced circuit of morning talk shows Sunday, Secretary of State John Kerry took a call from one of his aides.

He might not have realized that his "Fox News Sunday" mic was live.

Kerry spoke with the aide about the situation developing in Gaza, saying, "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," in reference to the death toll.

Some are interpreting his blunt remarks as a condemnation of Israeli tactics; here's the Washington Post's take:

Kerry's comments are clear. "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," he says, then repeats it. "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation." It's an apparent reference to Israel's insistence that its incursion into the region would be limited. "It's escalating significantly," the person on the phone replies, and Kerry then says, "We've got to get over there. I think we ought to go tonight." He then calls it "crazy" to be "sitting around."

Shortly afterwards during their interview, Fox News' Chris Wallace described the exchange as an "extraordinary moment of diplomacy."

Wallace played the clip for Kerry and asked him if he thought Israel was taking the strikes into Gaza too far.

"We support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Kerry said. “It’s tough. It’s tough to have this kind of operation. I reacted obviously in a way that anybody does with respect to young children and civilians.”

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