The U.S. government on Wednesday slammed the "senseless" violence committed against a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem on Friday.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless act of hate and violence," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland in a written statement.

Wishing the victim, a 17-year-old Arab named Jamal Julani, a speedy recovery, Nuland said that the "discriminatory" acts of violence "undermine and discredit" peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians.

In the attack on early Friday morning, dozens of Jewish teens allegedly set upon three young Arab passersby, including Julani, in Jerusalem's central Zion Square.

According to eyewitnesses, one of whom called the attack a " full-blown lynch," the attackers beat the Arabs while shouting racial slurs, and kept on beating Julani until he blacked out from his wounds.

Jerusalem police have so far arrested at least eight underage Israelis who were suspected of taking part in the brutal beating on Friday.

"We welcome Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu's unequivocal condemnation of racism and violence and his call for a full police investigation," said Nuland, noting that the perpetrators "must be held to account."