The White House Condemns Conditions in Gaza, Stops Short of Calling it Genocide
The White House issued a strong condemnation of the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza after seven months of Israel’s war against Hamas. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed deep concern for the Palestinian civilians caught in the middle of the conflict, describing their suffering as unimaginable and immense.
While the Biden administration stopped short of labeling the high civilian death rate as genocide, Sullivan emphasized the need for Hamas to be defeated and for justice to be delivered to its leader, Yahya Sinwar. He acknowledged the challenges faced by Israel in conducting their war on Hamas, particularly the militant group’s use of civilian facilities for military purposes.
Sullivan called on Israel to do more to protect innocent civilians and emphasized the US commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. President Biden’s recent threat to withhold offensive arms to Israel if they carried out a full-scale assault on Rafah underscored the administration’s concerns about the impact of the conflict on civilians.
Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defiance of US objections, Sullivan maintained that Israel’s government is accountable to its own people. The ongoing conflict in Gaza highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region and the challenges of balancing national security interests with humanitarian concerns.