Former American president Barack Obama spoke, in a long -awaited statement on Monday, October 23, 2023, on the war currently engaged in Hamas and Israel.
Barack Obama warns Israel not to repeat the errors made by the United States after September 11, 2001. If he supports the “right of Israel to defend himself” he warns the Hebrew State and the United States against ignoring the fate of the Palestinians.
Its declaration does not deviate much from the position of the Biden administration consisting in supporting the actions of Israel in Gaza, but it distinguishes itself from some significant points.
“But even if we support Israel, we must also be clear about the fact that the way Israel leads his fight against Hamas is important,” said Obama.
The former president added that it was necessary to “beware of a dehumanizing language towards the population of Gaza, or minimize Palestinian suffering – whether in Gaza or in the West Bank – as if it were out of topic”.
Obama also addressed some of the deep causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the forced displacement of the Palestinians since the creation of Israel in 1948 (the Nakba).
“This means recognizing that Palestinians also live in disputed territories for generations; That many of them have not only been moved during the creation of Israel, but continue to be forcibly moved by a settlers’ movement which has too often received the tacit or explicit support of the Israeli government, “he continued.
“The world closely follows the evolution of events in the region, and any military strategy on the part of Israel which would ignore human costs could eventually turn against it,” said Obama.
“The Israeli government’s decision to cut food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population may not only worsen an increasing humanitarian crisis, but also to tighten the attitude of the Palestinians for generations,” said Obama, insisting that the “military strategy of Israel must respect international law”.
In his declaration, the former US president also warned Israel not to repeat the errors made by Washington after the outbreak of several wars the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
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– Barack Obama (@barackobama) October 23, 2023