White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby today (Tuesday) rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in its war against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.
“I heard this word ‘genocide’ tossed around. Hamas actually does have genocidal intentions against the people of Israel. They’d like to see it wiped off the map. They’ve said so on purpose. That’s what’s at stake here,” Kirby said during a press briefing.
"Israel has the right and the responsibility to defend itself and we are going to make sure it has the tools and capabilities to do that. Again, we are one month after this, and we ought not forget what happened one month ago. 1,400 people slaughtered in their homes at a music festival. And when Hamas decided to conduct operations, it was with the intent of killing people," he said.
Kirby said that "it's horrible to see the images of young kids being pulled out of rubble, and so many of them not making it," but placed the blame for the civilian casualties in Gaza on Hamas.
"Hamas is putting those children and their families in greater danger by not letting them go, by encouraging them to stay, by sheltering in their homes, by building tunnels under their hospitals, and by holding children hostages," he said.
Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has accused the Biden Administration of supporting "genocide" by supporting the State of Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas massacre, releasing a video attacking Biden and vowing that he will pay a price for supporting Israel in the 2024 presidential election.