US Official Claims Israel Committed War Crimes in Gaza Conflict
Matthew Miller, a former State Department spokesperson, discusses internal White House debates over the US stance on Israel amid accusations of war crimes.
LONDON: A senior official in the administration of former US President Joe Biden has stated that there is a belief that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza.
Matthew Miller, a former State Department spokesperson, expressed that while he does not believe genocide is occurring, he affirmed that individual incidents involving Israeli forces have constituted war crimes.
In remarks made during a podcast interview, Miller noted the ongoing debates within the White House regarding US policy towards Israel and its military actions in Gaza.
Miller articulated that while the question of whether Israel, as a state, has pursued a policy of committing war crimes remains open, the existence of specific incidents involving Israeli soldiers committing war crimes is evident.
He referenced internal discussions among senior White House staff that led to disagreements on policy decisions throughout the conflict.
He pointed to particular instances where the administration debated cutting off arms shipments to Israel, mentioning a temporary halt to the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their intended use in Gaza.
This decision was made amid worries that such weapons would not be deployed in a manner consistent with international humanitarian standards.
Miller indicated that there were notable tensions between Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding military support for Israel, stating, "It’s true about every senior official in government that they don’t win every policy fight that they enter into." He explained that senior officials in the administration often strive to present their cases for policy changes to the president.
Furthermore, he shared that Biden's strong allegiance to Israel had generated some division within the administration, positing that public dissent in the U.S. and movements in Europe to recognize Palestine may have influenced Hamas's leadership to avoid agreeing to ceasefire negotiations.
He observed that the administration faced significant internal pressures during critical periods of the conflict, especially when civilian casualties in Gaza escalated.
Miller questioned whether more could have been done to persuade the Israeli government to engage in ceasefire discussions during these intense periods.
As Biden’s approval ratings decreased leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the ongoing conflict in Gaza became a focal point of concern for the administration.
Additionally, Miller remarked on the capabilities of Steve Witkoff, a Middle East envoy under Trump, emphasizing the importance of U.S. envoys conveying clear presidential support in negotiations relating to the region.
Matthew Miller, a former State Department spokesperson, expressed that while he does not believe genocide is occurring, he affirmed that individual incidents involving Israeli forces have constituted war crimes.
In remarks made during a podcast interview, Miller noted the ongoing debates within the White House regarding US policy towards Israel and its military actions in Gaza.
Miller articulated that while the question of whether Israel, as a state, has pursued a policy of committing war crimes remains open, the existence of specific incidents involving Israeli soldiers committing war crimes is evident.
He referenced internal discussions among senior White House staff that led to disagreements on policy decisions throughout the conflict.
He pointed to particular instances where the administration debated cutting off arms shipments to Israel, mentioning a temporary halt to the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their intended use in Gaza.
This decision was made amid worries that such weapons would not be deployed in a manner consistent with international humanitarian standards.
Miller indicated that there were notable tensions between Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding military support for Israel, stating, "It’s true about every senior official in government that they don’t win every policy fight that they enter into." He explained that senior officials in the administration often strive to present their cases for policy changes to the president.
Furthermore, he shared that Biden's strong allegiance to Israel had generated some division within the administration, positing that public dissent in the U.S. and movements in Europe to recognize Palestine may have influenced Hamas's leadership to avoid agreeing to ceasefire negotiations.
He observed that the administration faced significant internal pressures during critical periods of the conflict, especially when civilian casualties in Gaza escalated.
Miller questioned whether more could have been done to persuade the Israeli government to engage in ceasefire discussions during these intense periods.
As Biden’s approval ratings decreased leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the ongoing conflict in Gaza became a focal point of concern for the administration.
Additionally, Miller remarked on the capabilities of Steve Witkoff, a Middle East envoy under Trump, emphasizing the importance of U.S. envoys conveying clear presidential support in negotiations relating to the region.