In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the US State Department has cautioned diplomats working on Middle East affairs not to publicly suggest that the United States is advocating for a reduction in violence. Internal emails, which were exclusively viewed by HuffPost, were sent on Friday, shortly after Israel requested over 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes and not return until further notice as Israel launches its most significant counteroffensive on Gazan territory in decades.
According to the message, State Department personnel wrote that high-level officials do not wish for press materials to include three specific phrases: “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” and “restoring calm.”
This revelation of the internal email demonstrates the Biden administration’s reluctance to call for Israeli restraint as they escalate their attacks on Gaza. In recent days, US President Joe Biden has also delivered a series of strongly worded speeches pledging support for Israel. Additionally, when asked about Israel’s evacuation order on Friday, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby neither rejected nor endorsed it, describing it as “a tall order.”
He stated, “We’re going to be careful not to get into armchair quarterbacking the tactics on the ground by the [Israel Defense Forces].” Mr. Kirby said, “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.”
On Friday, Joe Biden also compared Hamas operatives to al-Qaeda. He stated, “The more we learn about the attack, the more horrifying it becomes. More than 1,000 innocent lives lost, including at least 27 Americans. These guys make al-Qaeda look pure. They’re pure evil. Like I said from the beginning, the United States, make no mistake about it, stands with Israel.”
Furthermore, Mr. Biden reaffirmed his support for Israel, stating, “We’re making sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and respond to these attacks. It’s also a priority for me to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Notably, since Saturday, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people in Israel, while Israeli counter-airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,530 people in Gaza. Israel has reported the deaths of approximately 1,500 Hamas militants within its borders.
