Israel’s actions could ‘harden Palestinian attitudes for generations’: Obama

Washington: Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday warned Israel that denying ‘food and water for Gaza’ could weaken ‘international support’ for it, Reuters reported.

Obama hit on the more important side of the situation when he said some of Israel’s actions in the war could "harden Palestinian attitudes for generations".

As the war is raging in Gaza, Obama said any Israeli military strategy ignoring the human costs at war could ‘ultimately backfire’.

‘The Israeli government's decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population (in Gaza) threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis; it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel's enemies, and undermine long-term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,’ Obama was quoted as saying.

Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has been pounding Gaza Strip with an avalanche of airstrikes that killed more than 5,000 Palestinians, the report said citing Gaza officials.

While cautioning about civilian casualties, Obama emphasized his support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

Back in the day of his presidency, Obama threw his weight behind Israel’s right to self-defense initially during its conflict with Hamas.

However when the Palestinians casualties mounted Obama called for Israeli restraint.

The 45-km-long Gaza Strip, home to more than 2.3 million people ruled by Hamas since 2007, has long been caught in the crossfire between the militant group and Israel.

The Obama administration’s move to broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestinian fell through.

Joe Biden has not initiated any peace talks since coming to power reportedly saying that both sides are ‘too intransigent and the climate was not right,’ according to the report.