U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Visit Iron Dome Site March 20, 2013. (Photo: Israel Project/Flickr Creative Commons)
Obama Administration Endorses Israel's Assault on Gaza
US backing comes amid rising Palestinian death toll in besieged enclave
The White House on Tuesday announced its backing of Israel's escalating air strikes on Gaza amid reports of a rising Palestinian death toll that now includes the killing of more than a dozen children.
Speaking at a daily briefing, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest declared, "No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel's right to defend itself against these vicious attacks."
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" --Ramah Kudaimi, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
He added, "At the same time, we appreciate the call that Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has made publicly to act responsibly. We're concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides."
But Ramah Kudaimi of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation told Common Dreams, "It is utterly shameful and incomprehensible that at a time that Israel is launching airstrikes on a population under siege and unable to escape, the White House would make it seem that it is justifiable in any sort of way."
Numerous reports show a heavy death toll for the over 1.7 million people who live in Gaza under a U.S.-backed military and economic siege, which has escalated since 2007, cutting off residents from public goods including clean water and medical supplies.
According to a Wednesday morning tweet from a Gaza Health Ministry official, at least 49 Palestinians have so far been killed and over 450 people injured during Israeli air strikes this week. At least 13 of the dead so far, reports indictate, are children 16-years-old or younger. This includes Mohammed Malakiyeh, just 18-months-old, who died alongside his mother.
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" said Kudaimi.
The high death tolls are not new to Gaza, where safe places to take shelter during air raids are few and far between.
Israel's last major bombing of Gaza in November 2012 killed 158 Palestinians--33 of them children, according to Defence for Children International--Palestine. And Israel's 2008 - 2009 "Operation Cast Lead" attack on Gaza killed approximately 1,400 Palestinians, 352 of them children, the organization reports.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to further escalate the military attacks, reports from the ground show rising fear and death in Gaza.
\u201coh my... this was really loud missile hitting nearby. horrifying! #Israel is bombing #Gaza now\u201d— Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631 (@Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631) 1404922938
Video footage from The Washington Post shows scenes in Gaza, including air strikes and their aftermath. Warning: graphic and disturbing images.
_____________________
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
The White House on Tuesday announced its backing of Israel's escalating air strikes on Gaza amid reports of a rising Palestinian death toll that now includes the killing of more than a dozen children.
Speaking at a daily briefing, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest declared, "No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel's right to defend itself against these vicious attacks."
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" --Ramah Kudaimi, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
He added, "At the same time, we appreciate the call that Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has made publicly to act responsibly. We're concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides."
But Ramah Kudaimi of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation told Common Dreams, "It is utterly shameful and incomprehensible that at a time that Israel is launching airstrikes on a population under siege and unable to escape, the White House would make it seem that it is justifiable in any sort of way."
Numerous reports show a heavy death toll for the over 1.7 million people who live in Gaza under a U.S.-backed military and economic siege, which has escalated since 2007, cutting off residents from public goods including clean water and medical supplies.
According to a Wednesday morning tweet from a Gaza Health Ministry official, at least 49 Palestinians have so far been killed and over 450 people injured during Israeli air strikes this week. At least 13 of the dead so far, reports indictate, are children 16-years-old or younger. This includes Mohammed Malakiyeh, just 18-months-old, who died alongside his mother.
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" said Kudaimi.
The high death tolls are not new to Gaza, where safe places to take shelter during air raids are few and far between.
Israel's last major bombing of Gaza in November 2012 killed 158 Palestinians--33 of them children, according to Defence for Children International--Palestine. And Israel's 2008 - 2009 "Operation Cast Lead" attack on Gaza killed approximately 1,400 Palestinians, 352 of them children, the organization reports.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to further escalate the military attacks, reports from the ground show rising fear and death in Gaza.
\u201coh my... this was really loud missile hitting nearby. horrifying! #Israel is bombing #Gaza now\u201d— Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631 (@Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631) 1404922938
Video footage from The Washington Post shows scenes in Gaza, including air strikes and their aftermath. Warning: graphic and disturbing images.
_____________________
The White House on Tuesday announced its backing of Israel's escalating air strikes on Gaza amid reports of a rising Palestinian death toll that now includes the killing of more than a dozen children.
Speaking at a daily briefing, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest declared, "No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel's right to defend itself against these vicious attacks."
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" --Ramah Kudaimi, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
He added, "At the same time, we appreciate the call that Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has made publicly to act responsibly. We're concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides."
But Ramah Kudaimi of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation told Common Dreams, "It is utterly shameful and incomprehensible that at a time that Israel is launching airstrikes on a population under siege and unable to escape, the White House would make it seem that it is justifiable in any sort of way."
Numerous reports show a heavy death toll for the over 1.7 million people who live in Gaza under a U.S.-backed military and economic siege, which has escalated since 2007, cutting off residents from public goods including clean water and medical supplies.
According to a Wednesday morning tweet from a Gaza Health Ministry official, at least 49 Palestinians have so far been killed and over 450 people injured during Israeli air strikes this week. At least 13 of the dead so far, reports indictate, are children 16-years-old or younger. This includes Mohammed Malakiyeh, just 18-months-old, who died alongside his mother.
"I want to ask the White House, Who do they think is actually targeting civilians when it is Palestinian children being killed?" said Kudaimi.
The high death tolls are not new to Gaza, where safe places to take shelter during air raids are few and far between.
Israel's last major bombing of Gaza in November 2012 killed 158 Palestinians--33 of them children, according to Defence for Children International--Palestine. And Israel's 2008 - 2009 "Operation Cast Lead" attack on Gaza killed approximately 1,400 Palestinians, 352 of them children, the organization reports.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to further escalate the military attacks, reports from the ground show rising fear and death in Gaza.
\u201coh my... this was really loud missile hitting nearby. horrifying! #Israel is bombing #Gaza now\u201d— Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631 (@Dr. ALMOGHAYER \u062f. \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u064a\u0631) 1404922938
Video footage from The Washington Post shows scenes in Gaza, including air strikes and their aftermath. Warning: graphic and disturbing images.
_____________________