US, call on Israel to protect civilian lives in Gaza

White House said Sunday that Israel has the responsibility to protect the lives of innocent people in Gaza

Comments were made in several interviews on American television, White House National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, amid growing criticism of the death of Palestinian civilians.

The American President Joe Biden's administration has increasingly come under pressure to make it clear that steadfast support of Israel does not mean approval of all the actions of the United States ally in the poor coastal enclave.

Mr Sullivan said Washington was asking difficult questions to Israel, including issues related to humanitarian aid, the difference between terrorists and innocent civilians, and Israel's plans for military operation.

“We believe that at every hour, every day of this military operation, IDF (Israel Protection Forces), the Israeli government must make all possible efforts to distinguish between Hamas terrorists who are legitimate military targets and civilians who are not”, said Mr Sullivan on CNN.
The United States has been clear on this issue and Mr. Biden will repeat his stay on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”, said Mr. Sullivan.

National Security Adviser also said that Prime Minister Netanyah has the responsibility of “contained the extremist members of Jewish settlements in the West Coast, under the control of Israel.

The “is totally unacceptable to have violence from extremist elements against innocent people in the Western Coast, he said.

The brutal surprise attack of the Palestinian militant group Hamas within Israel on October 7th, which caused the death of 1,400 people, brought back a wave of air bombings from Israel and recently an operation from the ground.

Militants have taken over 220 hostage persons from Israel, who are believed to be in Gaza.

Medical authorities at the Gaza Strip, which are under Hamas' control, say 8,005 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in the enclave of 2.3 million people.

The United States considers Hamas a terrorist organisation.

Hamas militants who control Gaza have infiltrated the Palestinian population and civil infrastructure, making the operation against them extremely difficult, Mr Sullivan noted.

This adds to Israel's difficulties but does not diminish its responsibility under international humanitarian law, to distinguish between terrorists and civilians, and to protect the lives of innocent people, and that is the overwhelming majority of people in Gaza”, said Mr Sullivan. / VOA