In a significant shift from the Biden administration’s staunch support for Israel, the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated that the thousands of Palestinians who were killed in Israel’s recent attacks on Gaza “did not deserve to die.” Sullivan made these remarks during an interview with ABC News, where he also mentioned that Hamas hides behind civilians, but Israel still has a responsibility to protect the civilian population under international humanitarian law.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 8,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 3,300 children and over 2,000 women, as a result of Israel’s military bombardment. The death toll is expected to rise as Israel’s ground offensive continues in addition to ongoing aerial attacks. The current Israeli offensives are in retaliation for a surprise cross-border attack on October 7th, where Hamas killed around 1,400 people in Israel and took more than 200 hostages.
Sullivan emphasized that Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself against terrorists but also has a responsibility to distinguish between terrorists and ordinary civilians. His comments come as mass protests demanding an immediate ceasefire and an end to America’s support for Israel continue across the country. Arrests were made during a protest organized by progressive groups Jewish Voices for Peace and IfNotNow at Grand Central station in New York, where demonstrators occupied the station during rush hour.
Sullivan’s statement regarding civilian deaths contradicts President Biden’s remarks casting doubt on the veracity of the Palestinian death toll reported by the Gaza health ministry. Biden’s skepticism drew criticism, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for an apology for his “shocking and dehumanizing” comments. Many progressives, including Arab Americans, are expressing anger over Biden’s remarks.
The Biden administration’s priority remains the safe passage of Americans trapped in Gaza, as more than 200 people from various countries, including Americans, are still held captive. Hamas has been preventing their departure and presenting demands. At the same time, around 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza are trapped without vital resources, further exacerbating the dire situation in what human rights groups describe as an “apartheid state” and an “open air prison.”
Sullivan has faced criticism for an essay published just days before the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, where he claimed that previous frictions had been de-escalated. The weekend bombardment, said to be the most intense of the conflict, occurred during a blackout caused by Israel shutting down communications in Gaza. Some communication has been restored, but the situation remains dire.
Pro-Palestinian protests are expected to escalate further, with demonstrators from across the US planning to gather in the capital in what is set to be the largest demonstration in support of Palestine to date.
