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U.S. officials privately warn Israel to show restraint in retaliating against Hamas (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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In meetings in Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conveyed to Israeli leaders that it’s important to observe international rules of warfare.

As Israel girds for a fearsome ground assault into Gaza, senior Biden administration officials are warning their Israeli counterparts to show restraint and avoid mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster that could turn world opinion against the Jewish state, according to two current and one former U.S. official.

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[-] TheBananaKing@lemmy.world 65 points 9 months ago

Yes, becasue it's the fallout from bad PR that matters, not, you know, mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster.

Fuck I hate people rn.

[-] Shiggles@sh.itjust.works 13 points 9 months ago

Well, clearly the second part doesn’t bother them, so I can understand appealing to the psychopaths instead.

[-] PugJesus@kbin.social 10 points 9 months ago

People are generally more responsive to arguments regarding their interests than their values.

[-] dependencyInjection@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 months ago

From one psychopathic government to another. Trust us bro.

[-] isles@lemmy.world 46 points 9 months ago

OK, but privately privately, they said you're doing great champ.

[-] gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world 37 points 9 months ago

Also, publicly,

In messages circulated on Friday, State Department staff wrote that high-level officials do not want press materials to include three specific phrases: “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm.”

[-] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 22 points 9 months ago

Are we the baddies?

[-] Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

I'm not sure how any American could question that since the countries birth

[-] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 9 points 9 months ago

Jbfc, what is wrong with us?

[-] TheLowestStone@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago

A lot

[-] TGhost@lemmy.ml 32 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Privately, because outloud, would appears as antisemitic, for Zionists and all the voices on their sides

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[-] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago

Publicly telling everyone to act like rational human beings would be way more beneficial

[-] generalpotato@lemmy.world 30 points 9 months ago

600 children dead… and the warnings are still private… jfc.

[-] TheBat@lemmy.world 26 points 9 months ago

A bit late for that champ

[-] some_guy 25 points 9 months ago

Nope. It needs to be said loudly, publicly, repeatedly. Until then, we are enablers of atrocities.

[-] FlowVoid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Biden said it publicly, too:

We uphold the laws of war — the law of war. It matters. There’s a difference.

And repeated something similar today, when asked about retaliation against Hamas:

Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people ... there needs to be a Palestinian Authority. There needs to be a path to a Palestinian state ... It would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again.

[-] fruitleatherpostcard@lemm.ee 22 points 9 months ago

Neten-yahoo is a fucking criminal goon and beyond ‘telling’. Much like a few US politicians whose name sounds a lot like. “Trump”.

[-] fluxion@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago

They haven't even started yet and already burned through all their good will.

Meanwhile Hamas leaders are probably off in some lavish bunker getting sucked off by their 4 wives while waiting for a Israel to recruit a new army of bereaved future terrorists for them.

[-] Echo71Niner@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago

More fucking lies.

Leaked internal emails reveal that the U.S. State Department is discouraging diplomats from advocating for Israeli "de-escalation" in the ongoing conflict with Gaza. The emails instruct officials not to use phrases like "de-escalation/ceasefire," "end to violence/bloodshed," and "restoring calm" in their public statements, indicating the Biden administration's reluctance to push for Israeli restraint. Israel recently ordered over a million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate, and the UN warned of devastating humanitarian consequences. U.S. officials have avoided discussing a ceasefire, focusing on supporting Israel's response to Hamas attacks. Some lawmakers are urging stronger humanitarian calls, but public pressure is delicate due to Israel's significant losses and U.S. support. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is engaged in diplomatic efforts in the region, including visits to influential Arab states.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/state-department-internal-emails-gaza-israel_n_65296395e4b0a304ff6ff95d

[-] FlowVoid@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

State and Defense are on the same page, you just need to read between the lines.

They want a targeted strike against Hamas leadership (i.e. not "de-escalation" or a "ceasefire" or an "end to bloodshed") but they don't want unnecessary civilian casualties. In other words less "Shock and Awe", more "Seal Team Six".

[-] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 4 points 9 months ago

I don't know the truth of the matter, these are internal things after all. But what you posted isn't necessarily inconsistent with the article. It's possible they were instructed not to say those things publicly, as your article says, but are privately pushing Israel to restrain themselves, as the above article says.

[-] assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

You're talking about something different. Internal communications within the state department about what language to use is completely different from private communication return Israel.

I mean this is pretty standard when it comes to interpersonal relationships even. If a friend does something questionable I'm likely going to avoid discussing it in public until I can talk to them in private about how bad the thing was.

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this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2023

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