John Kirby compares Israeli airstrike that killed civilians with US bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan

politics

War between Israel and Hamas

From Steven Nelson

WASHINGTON – White House spokesman John Kirby defended Israel amid international outrage after an airstrike in the Gaza Strip reportedly killed dozens of civilians, saying the U.S. military “did the same thing.”

“We have carried out airstrikes in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, where we have tragically caused civilian casualties,” he said, adding that the US subsequently responded in the same way as Israel.

“We have acknowledged it, we have investigated it and we have tried to learn from it to make changes,” Kirby said at the regular White House press conference on Tuesday.

US bombings that killed civilians included “the time of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, where we carried out an airstrike that tragically killed a father and some of his children,” he said.

“We have atoned for it, we have learned from it and we have put in place procedures to prevent it from happening again. And that is our expectation in this case.”

Kirby, a former Pentagon and State Department spokesman, largely defended Israel when it was reported that at least 44 displaced Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on Sunday.

He pointed out that Israel spoke of the use of precision bombs and that the terrorist group Hamas had admitted that two high-ranking leaders were also killed in the attack – which suggests that they were hiding among civilians.

Kirby said preliminary findings by the Israeli military suggested that an unintentional secondary explosion was the cause of civilian deaths.

“Hamas itself has released a statement celebrating the martyrdom of two of its fighters. … So I don’t know how anyone could deny that in this regard they have not tried to attack Hamas in a targeted and precise manner,” he said.

“The Israelis said they used 37-pound bombs, precision-guided munitions. A 37-pound bomb is not a big bomb, and it is exactly the kind of munition…

“If they actually used these means, then it is certainly an indication of an attempt to act discreetly, specifically and precisely,” he said.

“This obviously had tragic consequences and of course needs to be investigated. We need to find out why this could happen despite the use of small-caliber, precision-guided munitions. But we need to let the Israelis get to the bottom of this.”

Kirby also criticized critics of Israel who he said had “forgotten” that Hamas started the war with its surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7.

“Maybe some people have forgotten what happened on October 7, but we have not – 1,200 innocent Israelis were slaughtered, mutilated and tortured. And they live in close proximity to such a threat that still poses a serious threat in Rafah,” Kirby said.

The terrorists also took hundreds of people hostage, including five Americans who are believed to still be in captivity.

“By the way, if you think Hamas has simply disappeared – it has not disappeared from Rafah or Gaza – and if you think they have given up their intentions towards the State of Israel, think again. They have not,” he said.

“So Israel has every right not to want to live alongside such a threat, and yes, we will continue to provide them with the means to counter it.”

President Biden initially took a staunchly pro-Israel stance, visiting the country days after the conflict began to show his support, but in recent months he has become increasingly critical of the Israeli military – including halting the delivery of some heavy bombs to stave off a threatened offensive against the last major bastion of Hamas rule.