Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Sunday that the United States holds the belief that a higher number of civilians in Gaza have lost their lives compared to terrorists.
During the interview on “Face the Nation,” CBS’s Margaret Brennan questioned Blinken about the United States’ stance on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement. According to Brennan, Netanyahu claimed that Israel has eliminated 14,000 terrorists and 16,000 civilians in its fight against Hamas.
According to Blinken, Israel does have processes, procedures, rules, and regulations in place to minimize civilian harm. However, the report highlights that these measures have not been consistently applied during the war in Gaza, leading to significant impact on the civilian population.
In a recent interview, Blinken addressed the concerns raised by President Biden regarding the offensive weapons being sent to Israel during the conflict in Rafah. The President had stated that he would cease sending such weapons if Israel invades this area, where a significant number of civilians have sought shelter. The international community, as well as humanitarian organizations, have expressed their worry over the potential harm inflicted on innocent civilians as a result of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
During his speech, Blinken also addressed the State Department’s recent review on Israel’s war conduct, expressing “serious concerns” regarding its actions in Gaza.
According to the spokesperson, the assessment will be continuous. However, based on the overall evidence of civilian suffering, including men, women, and children affected by the conflict, it is reasonable to conclude that Israel has not consistently adhered to international humanitarian law.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the war in Gaza has resulted in the tragic loss of over 34,000 Palestinian lives. It is important to note that the ministry does not differentiate between combatant and militant casualties. The conflict arose when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, causing the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis. Additionally, over 200 individuals were taken hostage during this distressing period.
