Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the US State Department has instructed diplomats not to publicly call for “de-escalation” in Gaza, according to internal emails obtained by HuffPost. The directive was issued on Friday, shortly after Israel urged over 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes due to Israeli military offensive actions.
As per the message, the State Department officials expressed their desire to avoid using certain phrases in press materials. These phrases include “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” and “restoring calm,” as reported by HuffPost.
This revelation exposes the Biden administration’s hesitance to pressure Israel to exercise restraint as it intensifies its attacks on Gaza. In recent days, President Joe Biden has made several strong statements affirming support for Israel. Furthermore, when questioned about Israel’s evacuation order, John Kirby, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, neither endorsed nor rejected the decision, characterizing it as “a tall order.”
“We’re going to be careful not to get into armchair quarterbacking the tactics on the ground by the [Israel Defense Forces],” remarked Mr. Kirby. “What I can tell you is we understand what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to move civilians out of harm’s way and giving them fair warning,” he added.
In addition, President Biden has categorized Hamas operatives as being worse than al-Qaeda and has reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Israel. “Like I said from the beginning, the United States, make no mistake about it, stands with Israel. The United States stands with Israel,” President Biden declared.
He further emphasized his commitment to assisting Israel in defending itself and responding to the attacks. President Biden also expressed a sense of urgency in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Since the start of the conflict, the death toll in Israel has risen to over 1,300 people, while more than 1,530 people have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli counter-airstrikes. Israel asserts that around 1,500 Hamas militants have been killed within its borders.