obama on gaza

Former Pres Obama four days ago released his statement on Israel and Gaza. What’s intriguing and interesting to note is how he seemed to strike a balance between the conflicting issues, supporting Biden’s stand on Israel’s right to self defense while also acknowledging the sufferings of the Palestinian people. Obama notes “thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the bombing of Gaza, many of them children. Hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes. The Israeli government’s decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population 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.” Essentially, he's advocating for actions that reduces civilian casualties and urging the US to take a leading role in delivering essential aid and supplies to Gaza. He also emphasized the importance of unity among key players in the region in forging a solution to Palestinian’s right for self determination while recognizing Israel’s right to exist. Full statement Here