Former US President Barack Obama said that some of Israel's measures in its battle against Hamas, including cutting off food and water to Gaza, could "harden Palestinian attitudes for generations" and diminish international support for Israel.
In unusual remarks on an ongoing foreign policy crisis, Obama stated that any Israeli military approach that ignores the human costs of the conflict "could ultimately backfire."
"The Israeli government's decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population (in Gaza) threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis; it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel's enemies, and undermine long-term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region," he said.
Did you read this?
Since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Israel has extensively bombarded Gaza with air strikes, killing nearly 1,400 people. According to Gaza officials, Israel's air attacks have killed around 5,000 Palestinians.
Obama criticized Hamas' attack and underlined his support for Israel's right to defend itself while warning about the dangers of such wars to civilians.
It was unclear whether Obama's message had been coordinated with US President Joe Biden, who served as his vice president for eight years.
During his presidency, Obama frequently supported Israel's right to self-defense at the onset of confrontations in Gaza with the Palestinian Islamist party Hamas. He rapidly urged for Israeli restraint when Palestinian casualties from airstrikes escalated.
The Obama administration attempted, but ultimately failed, to mediate a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Biden has not attempted to restart long-stalled discussions since assuming office in early 2021, claiming that leaders on both sides were too stubborn and the mood was unsuitable.
According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed in the embattled Palestinian territory since Israel began its air campaign two weeks ago.
