The Biden administration has dismissed accusations of genocide against Israel, which were made by several countries, including a NATO ally. The United States has maintained that there is no evidence to suggest that the Israeli forces in West Jerusalem are committing atrocities as they carry out their campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Last week, South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and on Wednesday, NATO member Türkiye officially supported the charge. However, the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, refuted these allegations during a press briefing, emphasising that there is no indication of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) engaging in genocide against the Palestinians.
Miller acknowledged the gravity of genocide as a heinous atrocity and stressed that such allegations should not be made lightly. He reiterated that the United States has not observed any actions that would constitute genocide.
The White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, took a more direct stance, describing the accusations against Israel as “meritless.” He further criticised South Africa’s ICJ case, stating that it is counterproductive and lacks any factual basis.
In summary, the Biden administration has firmly rejected the genocide allegations against Israel, maintaining that there is no evidence to support such claims. They have emphasized the importance of not making such serious allegations lightly and have criticized the ICJ case filed by South Africa as baseless and counterproductive.
Over 22,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, as reported by Gaza health authorities.
The United Nations issued a warning last month, stating that more than 500,000 people in Gaza were facing starvation due to the Israeli bombardment, and that 85% of the population had been displaced.
The conflict initially erupted when Hamas militants launched surprise attacks on villages in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 individuals, including nearly 700 Israeli citizens. Additionally, hundreds of hostages were taken back to Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn comparisons between Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian enclave and the Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany against the Jewish people.
He has also criticized Western nations for supporting Israel’s tactics and has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being as genocidal as Adolf Hitler.
Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, argued that Western nations, by providing “unconditional support” to Israel, have lost their credibility to speak about principles, virtue, and morality. Fidan further suggested that this support could lead to a significant geostrategic rupture. The US State Department recently condemned “inflammatory and irresponsible” statements made by two Israeli politicians who called for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.
Israeli Defense Minister Ben Gvir reiterated his statement, asserting that Israel is not subservient to the United States. While Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, emphasized that calls for mass displacement of Palestinians contradict official Israeli government policy and the US stance, he also acknowledged that the Israeli Defense Forces may request temporary evacuations during legitimate military operations in Gaza neighborhoods.
