US ‘not seeing acts of genocide’ in Gaza: State Dept
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A Palestinian picks up debris at the site of an Israeli strike at Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Jan 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - The United States has not observed acts in Gaza that constitute genocide, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Jan 3, after South Africa launched genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice over Israel’s military operation in the Palestinian enclave.
“Those are allegations that should not be made lightly... we are not seeing any acts that constitute genocide,” he said at a regular news briefing. “That is a determination by the State Department.”
Mr Miller had been asked about South Africa’s Jan 2 request that the World Court issue an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The court has scheduled public hearings for Jan 11 and 12 on South Africa’s request.
Israel said it would defend itself against the charges. Its crackdown has killed more than 22,000 Palestinians, laid waste to much of the enclave, and engulfed Gaza’s 2.3 million residents in a humanitarian disaster.
Mr Miller said he did not have any assessment to share on whether war crimes or crimes against humanity have been committed.
On Jan 2, Washington criticised two Israeli ministers for advocating the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza, but said Israel had assured US officials that their statements do not reflect its policy.
US officials have said that too many Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. They have urged Israel – which Washington provides with weapons – to do more to protect civilians.
The war was triggered by a cross-border Hamas assault on Israeli towns on Oct 7, which saw 1,200 people killed and some 240 hostages taken back to Gaza.
The total recorded Palestinian death toll from Israel’s offensive had reached 22,313 by Jan 3, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
Israel has called the genocide accusations “baseless” and says Hamas is using Palestinians as human shields and stealing aid from civilians, accusations that Hamas denies. REUTERS
