National Security Council Coordinator For Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Sunday that despite criticism Israel has taken over how it has conducted its war against Hamas, the country does significantly more than most countries to prevent the loss of civilian life.
Kirby made the remarks during a Sunday interview on CBS News’ “Face The Nation” with Margaret Brennan, when asked if the U.S. believes Israel was doing enough to prevent civilian casualties as the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry publishes unverified claims about the number of civilians killed.
Kirby said that in an ideal world the only acceptable number of human casualties that should ever occur is zero before acknowledging that some civilians have been killed as Israel hunts down the Hamas terrorists responsible for murdering 1,200 Israelis, wounding 5,300+, and kidnapping more than 240.
“In the last 24 hours, they have been putting a map online of places where people in Gaza need to avoid and need to go,” Kirby said. “They have also been doing it with paper and leaflets and that kind of thing.”
“My point is, Margaret, that it’s very rare for a modern military to take those kinds of steps, basically telegraphing their punches, before they actually conduct operations,” Kirby added.
Kirby said that while the U.S. was encouraging Israel to be as careful and precise as possible in their strikes against terrorist targets inside Gaza, it was important to remember what Israel is up against.
“Hamas deliberately shelters themselves inside residential buildings, hospitals and schools basically on purpose, putting civilians in the line of fire. And what Israel’s trying to do is get them out of the line of fire,” he said. “So, it’s an added burden that Israel has, as a modern military. And we recognize that. But it’s also a very difficult burden and obstacle for them to overcome.”
"The right number of civilian casualties" in Gaza "is zero," says John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council. He tells @margbrennan that the U.S. is working with Israel "to get them to be as careful and as precise and as deliberate in their targeting as possible." pic.twitter.com/kafF2lOMPR
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 3, 2023