Ex-president says decision threatens to worsen humanitarian crisis, undermine peace effort and erode global support for Israel

Some of Israel’s decisions in its war against Hamas – including cutting off food and water for Gaza – could “harden Palestinian attitudes for generations” and weaken international support for Israel, Barack Obama said on Monday.

In rare comments on an active foreign policy crisis, the ex-US president said any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs of the war “could ultimately backfire”.

“The Israeli government’s decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population [in Gaza] threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis – it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel’s enemies, and undermine long-term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,” said Obama.

  • wolfylow@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I mean, I do understand him saying: “don’t cut off water and power to over a million civilians, because it will be counterproductive in the long term”.

    But what he should really be saying is “don’t cut off water and power to over a million civilians because that’s fucking evil”.

    How did we get to this position where no leaders of the West will stand up and call this out for what it is?

    I understand it’s a complex situation, but treating an entire people like they’re subhuman is morally unacceptable. And I can’t fucking believe that the sodding Israelis - of all people - don’t know this.

      • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Bernie would have made a great leader. I mean, he wouldn’t have been able to get anything done, but he would have swayed public opinion in the right direction, and that counts for a lot.

    • AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      It’s not that complex… Israel is a fucking apartheid state and seems a little too eager for the excuse to cut off basic necessities