Discussing violence in the West Bank and increasing humanitarian aid.
Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “We must publicly criticize this breach of international norms.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has pressured Israel’s Prime Minister to halt strategic engagements. Within the U.S. State Department, there are calls for public criticism of Israel’s attacks on civilians, adding weight to demands for Israel to adhere to the laws of war.
According to the White House, on the 6th (local time), President Biden discussed the possibility of a tactical ceasefire with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A tactical ceasefire is intended to enable civilian evacuation, hostage release, and aid delivery.
Biden reportedly emphasized the need to reduce harm to Palestinian civilians while expressing strong support for Israel. He also discussed with Netanyahu the need to hold accountable the acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
They also discussed plans to significantly expand humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, enhance the ability to inspect and search vehicles carrying humanitarian aid, and efforts to release hostages held by Hamas.
The U.S. maintains its stance against a complete ceasefire but repeatedly emphasizes the need for a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House, said in an online briefing that day, “We believe in the value of a temporary humanitarian ceasefire, which is implemented locally for specific purposes, to allow goods to enter (the Gaza Strip) and people, including hostages, to get out.”
Kirby emphasized that the U.S. has been applying military posture in the Middle East as appropriate and will continue to adjust to send a strong message of deterrence in response to the recent deployment of an Ohio-class nuclear submarine to the region by the U.S. military.
As civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip surge due to Israel’s attacks, there are calls within the U.S. State Department for criticism of Israel. According to an internal memo obtained by political specialist media Politico, some State Department employees are calling for a public message to Israel along with U.S. support for a ceasefire.
In the memo, they stated, “We must publicly criticize Israel for failing to limit the targets of its attack operations to legitimate military targets and other violations of international norms,” and “We must publicly convey that it is against American values for Israel to act as if it has impunity when it supports settler violence and illegal land occupation or uses excessive force against Palestinians.”
They also pointed out the gap between the U.S. government’s public message and its private message to Israel. The memo said, “It contributes to the perception within the region that the U.S. is a biased and dishonest actor,” and “This, in the worst case, harms U.S. national interests.”
Politico reported that it is unclear how many State Department employees signed the memo.
By. Yoon Ju Hae
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