In a recent statement, former President Barack Obama cautioned that any Israeli military strategy that disregards civilian safety in its conflict with Hamas could potentially backfire.
The statement, published on Medium, emphasized Israel's right to defend its citizens against the violence instigated by the Palestinian terrorist group. Obama expressed his full support for President Biden's call for the U.S. to back its long-standing ally in its efforts to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and secure the safe return of hundreds of hostages.
"Israel has a right to defend its citizens against such wanton violence," Obama stated. He added, "Still, the world is watching closely as events in the region unfold, and any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire." The former President highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on the Palestinian population, with thousands killed in the bombing of Gaza, including many children, and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.
Obama also criticized the Israeli government's decision to cut off essential supplies to the civilian population, warning that it could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, and undermine long-term peace and stability efforts in the region.
The statement comes as Israel intensifies its military presence along the Gaza border, signaling a potential ground invasion. Obama noted that Hamas's military operations are deeply embedded within Gaza, with its leadership seemingly hiding among civilians, thereby endangering the people they claim to represent.
"But even as we support Israel, we should also be clear that how Israel prosecutes this fight against Hamas matters," Obama said. He emphasized the importance of Israel's military strategy adhering to international law, including laws aimed at minimizing civilian casualties and suffering.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, stated on Monday that the U.S. is posing "tough questions that any military ought to be asking" to Israel in anticipation of a possible ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.
"We have, since the beginning of the conflict in the early hours, maintained a level of communication with our Israeli counterparts to ascertain their intentions, their strategy, their aims to see what their answers are to the kinds of tough questions that any military ought to be asking before you launch any kind of a major operation," Kirby told reporters at the White House.
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