When asked to comment on the December 30 attack on Armenians in the Cows' Garden area of Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Mattew Miller said he had no “specific response”, adding that Washington doesn't want the Israeli government to take any steps that would escalate tensions in the region.

In a January 3 press briefing, a reporter asked Miller to comment on allegations made by Armenian Quarter representatives that Israel was using the Gaza conflict to force Armenians from the Old City.

On December 30, around thirty masked men attacked Armenians who were guarding the area.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum blamed Arab Muslims for the incident, claiming the attackers had gotten into a brawl with the Armenians.