Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed on Sunday that the United States holds the belief that a greater number of civilians in Gaza have lost their lives compared to terrorists.
During an interview on “Face the Nation,” CBS’s Margaret Brennan questioned Blinken about the U.S. perspective on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement regarding the number of terrorists and civilians killed by Israel in its conflict against Hamas.
Related posts
“We do have processes, procedures, rules, and regulations in place to minimize civilian harm,” Blinken stated in the interview. He acknowledged that the report highlights the inconsistency in applying these measures, especially considering the significant impact the war in Gaza has had on the civilian population.
In a recent interview, Blinken addressed the growing concerns surrounding Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. This comes in the wake of President Biden’s announcement that offensive weapons will no longer be provided to Israel if it invades Rafah, a city where over a million civilians have sought refuge during the ongoing conflict. The international community, as well as humanitarian aid organizations, have expressed their distress over Israel’s actions, cautioning that innocent civilians are being put at risk.
During his speech, Blinken also addressed the State Department’s recent review of Israel’s war conduct, expressing “serious concerns” regarding its actions in Gaza.
“We will continue to assess the situation as it unfolds. However, I must emphasize that based on the overwhelming evidence of civilian casualties, including innocent men, women, and children caught in the crossfire, it is evident that Israel has, in several instances, failed to adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law,” he remarked.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the war in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 34,000 Palestinians. It is important to note that the ministry does not differentiate between combatant and militant deaths. The conflict erupted when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the capture of over 200 individuals as hostages.
