Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday gave one of his most direct condemnations of the civilian death toll in Gaza and said more needs to be done to “minimize harm to Palestinian civilians.”

Although Blinken commended Israel for its announcement of daily military pauses in areas of Northern Gaza and two evacuation corridors, he said that “there is more that can and should be done to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians.”

The top US diplomat has subtly shifted his messaging in the days since he departed the Middle East earlier this week to more directly voice condemnation of the civilian toll in Gaza and the US’ expectations for the Israeli government. However, he still has not condemned the Israeli government offensive and has continually voiced support for its right to defend itself.

    • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Was there an acceptable number?

      0 is a number

      “I’m sorry, retaliating against the slaughter of your people is unacceptable. Please patiently await the next nightmarish orgy of mass murder, kidnapping, violence, and rape that will be visited upon you.”

      Seems to sum up Lemmy’s take on this conflict.

      • boredtortoise@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Retaliation à la “well do a nightmarish orgy of mass murder, kidnapping, violence, and rape to get back at the nightmarish orgy of mass murder, kidnapping, violence, and rape” is truly fucked up.

        Seeking justice is one thing, but going to war doesn’t end wars and terror doesn’t end terror.

        • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Retaliation à la “well do a nightmarish orgy of mass murder, kidnapping, violence, and rape to get back at the nightmarish orgy of mass murder, kidnapping, violence, and rape” is truly fucked up.
          Seeking justice is one thing, but going to war doesn’t end wars and terror doesn’t end terror.

          What makes you dispute that this conflict is, as Israel claims, about self-defense and not inflicting terror? According to the IDF, they are supposedly targeting valid military targets with less concern for collateral damage than Hamas would like, thereby devaluing their human shield tactics. Intentionally targeting civilians in mass terror attacks is something done by only one side in this conflict, and Hamas owns it and celebrates it. Israel at least ostensibly holds itself to higher standards.

          Osama Hamdan, another Hamas leader, reiterated that the group had no regrets for attacking Israel.
          Asked whether Hamas, with the benefit of hindsight, would carry out such an attack again, Hamdan said the question was hypothetical but “the answer is ‘yes.’” source