EDITORIAL: Middle East Israel must stop civilian bombing
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Nov. 5—The militant group Hamas, which effectively governs the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The government of Israel has retaliated and continues to bomb Gaza indiscriminately, killing civilians across the Palestinian territory, including recently in a refugee camp.
It's important to recognize governments initiated and escalateded the fighting. This has little to do with the people of both countries, who are now suffering at the hands of the governments.
And the people should be the main concern of the United States.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled Friday to the Middle East, aiming to bring about a pause or cease fire, as President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Minneapolis, said was necessary. Blinken has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge Israel to avoid killing civilians in its war in Gaza. He continues to meet with other Mideast leaders who have criticized Israel's invasion and the killing of civilians, creating a risk of a widening war.
As of Friday, 9,277 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. About 1,400 Israelis were killed in the initial Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Another 140 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas holds some 240 Israeli hostages.
The Biden administration must act urgently and forcefully to convince Israel to stop what appears to be indiscriminate killing of women and children. While Hamas is likely using some civilians as a shield, the Israeli government can achieve its goals with surgical strikes and special forces. So far, Netanyahu has not accepted accountability for the egregious violence on civilians. The actions of the Israeli government are also causing some in Congress to considering pulling support of Israel.
The House passed a $14.5 billion aid bill for Israel Thursday but new GOP Speaker Mike Johnson made it contingent on cutting the budget of the Internal Revenue Service. Biden vowed to veto the bill.
The kind of indiscriminate violence against civilians seen in this war opens a new and dangerous chapter in the long standing conflict between the Jewish state and the Palestinians it dislodged. The U.S. has a stake in avoiding further destabilization of the region, which may require some kind of U.S. military intervention if things get out of hand.
If we don't call Israel out for violations of international law intended to protect civilians, there will be no law.
