As the Israel-Hamas war continues through its third week, former president Barack Obama has issued a statement backing Israel in its fight against the terrorist group but added a warning. In a statement released on Monday, Oct. 23, the former president warned Israel not to put civilian lives at risk while noting how difficult a task that can be during war.
Obama’s remarks come as the Israeli army said it intensified its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza, striking 400 targets in 24 hours. The Israel Defense Forces said its strikes killed three Hamas deputy commanders on Monday, Oct. 23.
But the proximity of the fighting to civilians has the world concerned. Palestinian authorities said Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 5,000 people in Gaza and injured more than 15,000.
Obama cautions Israel that any “military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire.” Obama noted that thousands of Palestinians have already been killed and hundreds of thousands more forced from their homes as Israel responds to the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
“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,” Obama said.
Still, Obama said he stands with Israel in its fight against the terrorist group Hamas, but minimizing civilian casualties needs to be a priority. The former president added that allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza is a step in the right direction, “but we need to continue to lead the international community in accelerating critical aid and supplies to an increasingly desperate Gaza population.”
According to reporting by the Associated Press, aid trucks let into Gaza carried just a fraction of what supplies are needed.
As the war continues, the U.S. Navy warned ships traveling in the Red Sea on Tuesday, Oct. 24, to “exercise caution.” The Navy added that in the last few days, it has shot down missiles and drones believed to be launched by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.