- Kirby was questioned on Tuesday by a journalist about the Israel Defense Forces’ response to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
- Kirby said he has seen the IDF “take steps, sometimes actions that even I’m not sure our own military would take” to protect civilians.
- This caused outrage, with one writer suggesting that the Pentagon would take issue with the comparison involving US troops.
White House spokesman John Kirby came under fire after claiming that the Israeli military is doing a better job protecting civilians in Gaza than its American counterparts.
Kirby was questioned on Tuesday by a journalist about the Israel Defense Forces’ response to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis.
The IDF responded with a military operation that killed more than 28,000 Palestinians and displaced 2.3 million, according to Gaza officials.
Kirby said he has seen the IDF ‘take actions – sometimes actions that even I am not sure our own military would take – in terms of informing civilian populations before operations, where to go or not. They have taken action.’
This drew the ire of many on social media, particularly on the left, where The Nation writer Jeet Heer argued: “If I were in the Pentagon, I would be very upset if a government spokesperson said that the US military is less aware of civilians. more life than the IDF”.
White House spokesman John Kirby came under fire after claiming that the Israeli military is doing a better job protecting civilians in Gaza than its American counterparts.
Kirby was questioned on Tuesday by a journalist about the Israel Defense Forces’ response to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis.
Kirby himself is a retired Navy rear admiral.
Ryan Grim of The Intercept added, citing recent Israeli military operations: “This guy has lost control.”
‘This is the American government literally willing to tarnish the image of its own military – arguably the country’s most sacred institution – and sacrifice it so Israel can continue its slaughter. Absolutely unreal,” added businessman Arnaud Bertrand.
Another X user joked: ‘Yes, this will do wonders for solving the military recruitment problem!’
Kirby admitted that casualties and displacements were still too high for Washington’s liking.
“Now, obviously, those measures, while noteworthy, have not been enough to reduce civilian casualties, which is why the president spoke so openly about it yesterday and why we are going to continue to do everything we can to pressure to the Israelis. “We have to be more careful,” he said.
However, dissatisfied The Hill reporter Niall Stanage responded: ‘But respectfully, (Biden) has been talking forcefully about it for a long time. And the Israelis have now pushed people into this little corner in southwestern Gaza, tied up against the Egyptian border, where people believe a catastrophe is coming (inaudible). Shouldn’t there be actions that are stronger than just words?
Kirby noted that “we are working very, very closely with our Israeli counterparts” and added that they would not support a military operation in Rafah that did not take refugees into account.
Kirby said he has seen the IDF ‘take actions – sometimes actions that even I am not sure our own military would take – in terms of informing civilian populations before operations, where to go or not. They have taken measures
President Biden hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on Monday for talks about ending the months-long war and planning for what comes next.
The meeting with Abdullah comes as Biden and his aides are working to mediate another pause in Israel’s war against Hamas to send humanitarian aid and supplies to the region and remove hostages.
The White House faces growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration’s continued support for Israel in the face of rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“The key elements of the agreement are on the table,” Biden said alongside the king, although “gaps remain.”
He said the United States would do “everything possible” to reach an agreement: a pause in fighting for at least six weeks and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.