The “US is not telling Israel what to do,” Vice President Kamala Harris has acknowledged, as debate over Washington’s stance on the struggle in Gaza mounts.
Speaking in an interview with CBS on Sunday, Harris pressured that the United States is just offering recommendation, gear and diplomatic help to Israel. US troops won’t be despatched to Israel or Gaza, she added.
US coverage concerning the battle has come below elevated focus after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his nation’s struggle with Hamas has entered its “second stage”.
“A terrorist organisation, Hamas, slaughtered hundreds of young people at a concert … Israel, without any question, has a right to defend itself,” Harris informed CBS reporter Bill Whitaker.
“That being said, it is very important that there be no conflation between Hamas and the Palestinians. The Palestinians deserve equal measures of safety and security, self-determination and dignity, and we have been very clear that the rules of war must be adhered to and that there be humanitarian aid that flows,” she stated.
Asked whether or not the struggle may drag US troops in to struggle, Harris stated: “We have absolutely no intention nor do we have any plans to send combat troops into Israel or Gaza, period.”
Tit-for-tat
Harris additionally famous that whereas the US desires to make sure the battle doesn’t escalate, it has not been straightforward.
Her feedback got here after the US struck amenities in Syria linked to Iran final week, following a collection of assaults towards US forces in Iraq and Syria.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated the strikes in Syria aren’t related to the Israel-Hamas struggle, regardless of claims that the tit-for-tat assaults got here as a consequence of Washington’s stance on the Israel-Gaza struggle.
US President Joe Biden has additionally informed reporters that Washington’s response has “nothing to do” with Israel.
Yet Harris additionally famous to Whitaker that President Biden has warned Iran to not create a wider battle.
Diplomatic dissent
Vice President Harris’s feedback are consistent with the White House stance. But inside Washington’s diplomatic corridors there are indicators of friction.
Democrats searching for a ceasefire are pissed off over Biden’s persevering with steadfast help for Israel amid its blockade and bombardment of Gaza.
US diplomats are reported to be getting ready a “dissent cable”. The doc, criticising Washington’s coverage, will go to State Department leaders.
“There’s basically a mutiny brewing within State at all levels,” one State Department official informed the Huffington Post.
Last week, State Department official Josh Paul resigned, citing the Biden administration’s stance on the Israel-Hamas struggle as a motive.
“Hamas’ attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities … But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people – and is not in the long term American interest,” Paul wrote in a Linkedin Post.
‘Dehumanising’
An October 24 unclassified diplomatic cable reported on by VICE News, reveals that the US Office of Palestinians Affairs in Jerusalem had warned the White House of the dire state of affairs going through Palestinians in Gaza and referred to as on Washington to take motion.
However, two days later, President Biden forged doubt over the variety of folks lifeless in Gaza, saying that he has “no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using”.
That helped stir additional dissent concerning the US’s humanitarian response.
Yara Asi, a Palestinian American public well being skilled on the University of Central Florida, referred to as the president’s remarks “appalling”.
“To dispute those figures was really, really just putting both feet in with Israel on this, in yet another way that dehumanises Palestinians,” Asi informed Al Jazeera.
US Senator Brian Schatz stated that he was “deeply concerned” following a near-total communications blackout on Friday.
“There already is a dire humanitarian situation, including dangerous proximity to military operations for civilians and insufficient amounts of food, water, medicine, and fuel,” he stated on X.
Signs of response
There are indicators that Biden’s administration could also be starting to reply to the criticism.
According to a Washington Post report, Washington pressured the Israeli authorities to modify communication channels again on.
On Sunday, the White House stated that Biden referred to as for “accelerating” humanitarian help to Gaza in telephone calls with the leaders of Israel and Egypt.
The US chief reiterated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Israel has every right to defend its citizens from terrorism and a responsibility to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law which prioritises the protection of civilians.”
In his dialog with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Biden agreed to commit “to work together” in defending civilian lives and “ensure” that Palestinians in Gaza aren’t displaced to Egypt or another nation, the White House stated.
Humanitarian assist has trickled into Gaza via the Rafah crossing run by Egypt, the one crossing not managed by Israel.
However, the UN and different companies have warned that the present stream of assist to the two.3 million folks in Gaza, remains to be a “drop in the ocean”.
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