“That has to stop”
Biden sharply criticizes Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip
February 9, 2024, 8:24 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
The Gaza war claims many civilian victims. The Palestinian population is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. International criticism of Israel’s military actions is becoming increasingly harsh. After US Secretary of State Blinken’s admonition, President Biden is now also choosing clear words.
Given the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, US President Joe Biden has toughened his tone towards the Israeli government and described the armed forces’ actions against the Islamist Hamas as disproportionate. “I am of the opinion that the response in the Gaza Strip is excessive,” said Biden on Thursday evening (local time) in the White House. There are many innocent people who are starving, in need or even dying. “That has to stop.”
The day before, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had struck a noticeably critical tone during a visit to Israel and urged the Israeli leadership to do more to protect civilians in the Gaza war. The dehumanization that Israel experienced in the Hamas massacre in October “cannot be a license” to dehumanize others, Blinken said. The daily sacrifices that the military operations demanded of the innocent civilian population were “still too high.”
The USA has long been urging Israel to increase protection of the civilian population and provide more aid to the population in Gaza. However, the US government’s recent statements indicate increasing discontent with the resonance of its appeals with the Israeli leadership.
On October 7th, terrorists on behalf of Hamas carried out a devastating massacre in Israel, especially against civilians. Since then, Israel has been waging war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza war and the humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinian civilian population caused by the conflict have triggered sharp international criticism of Israel’s actions. The USA has long been urging Israel to increase protection of the civilian population and provide more aid to the population in Gaza.
Attack on Rafah: UN fears humanitarian catastrophe
In light of reports of an allegedly impending Israeli military offensive in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a humanitarian catastrophe and consequences for the entire region. “Half of Gaza’s population is now crowded into Rafah with nowhere else to go. Reports that the Israeli military plans to attack Rafah next are alarming,” Guterres wrote on X. “Such an action would deepen the humanitarian nightmare and could have unforeseen consequences for the entire region.”
The US government also warned of a large-scale offensive. “We believe that a military operation at this time would be a catastrophe for these people,” said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby. “We wouldn’t support that.”