Obama on Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash, Gaza

World Today

FILE – U.S. President Barack Obama speaks in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the situation in Gaza and the Malaysian airline crash in Ukraine from the White House Friday morning. He confirmed at least one American citizen was onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and asserted the plane was brought down by separatists.

WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING

President Obama on Malaysia Airlines #MH17 crash, Gaza

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the situation in Gaza and the Malaysia airline crash in Ukraine from the White House Friday morning, confirming at least one American citizen was onboard and asserting the plane was brought down by separatists.

“Our immediate focus will be on recovering the lost,” Obama said Friday, noting Russia, the separatists, and Ukraine need to put an end to the fighting.

On Gaza, Obama said he hopes Israel’s military response will minimize civilian casualties.

Obama 7/18/14 briefing Photo by CCTV-America’s Jessica Stone.

Obama named Quinn Lucas Schansman as at least one confirmed victim from the U.S on flight MH17. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that a Hong Kong resident was aboard the flight.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR MALAYSIA AIRLINES MH17 COVERAGE

Earlier Friday, the Washington Post reported that a preliminary U.S. intelligence report indicated the flight was shot down by separatists with an anti-aircraft missile, according to an American official.

The plane crashed near the eastern border of Ukraine and Russia, one day after Obama announced broader economic sanctions against Russia for its threatening moves in Ukraine.

This report was compiled with information from The Associated Press.