Ex-president says decision threatens to worsen humanitarian crisis, undermine peace effort and erode global support for Israel
Some of Israel’s decisions in its war against Hamas – including cutting off food and water for Gaza – could “harden Palestinian attitudes for generations” and weaken international support for Israel, Barack Obama said on Monday.
In rare comments on an active foreign policy crisis, the ex-US president said any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs of the war “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,” said Obama.
“Evil” is incredibly subjective and doesn’t convince people well enough. Next time you’re in an argument with someone, call them evil and see how quickly you’ve convinced them.
I saw an interview a while back where Obama said he makes these exact types of statements because if you want other countries to do things you perceive as “good” it’s more effective to convince them that it’s beneficial for them.
You’re probably right, but take a step back for a moment and think about how psychotic it is that “starving civilians is evil” is considered an unconvincing argument?
As soon as you have to explain why starving civilians is evil, or how not starving civilians will be a more beneficial, profitable, or productive outcome for the non-starved, you’re already living in a dystopian hellhole that doesn’t deserve to exist.