Former US president Barak Obama says Israel’s decision to cut off food, water, and electricity to a captive civilian population is a threat to growing humanitarian crisis undermine peace effort, and may further erode global support for Israel.
According to him the development “Threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis [but] 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.”
The criticism is part of a lengthy statement issued by Obama, the second since the start of the conflict, after his first comments focused largely on condemning Hamas and offering support for Israel.
Obama backs US President Joe Biden’s approach, which has included diplomatic and military support for Israel, while urging the IDF to follow international law and limit civilian casualties.
He calls on the international community to engage with Palestinian leaders who recognize Israel in order to achieve a two-state solution, recognizing that previous ones have rejected previous peace offers and that “the settler movement too often has received tacit or explicit support from the Israeli government.”
