Attacks on Kibbutzim and Civilian Impact

A family of four—a young boy and girl, ages six and eight, and their parents—were at the breakfast table at one of the kibbutzim. The father had his eye gouged out in front of his children. The mother's breast was cut off. The girl's foot was amputated, and the boy's fingers were cut off before they were executed. After this, their executioners sat down and had a meal. This is what Israeli society is confronting. The speaker noted the profound irony that kibbutzim are communities whose residents most ardently believe in and want a future of peace between Israelis and Palestinians—a future of two states.

Israel's Right and Obligation to Defend

No nation could tolerate such attacks. Israel has not only the right but the obligation to defend itself and to take every possible step to ensure this does not happen again. President Biden has repeatedly made this clear. However, the United States has been equally clear that how Israel pursues this defense is vitally important. The imperative of doing everything possible to protect civilians and to care for those endangered by the conflict is something the administration feels strongly about.

The Civilian Protection Burden and Hamas Strategy

The speaker acknowledged that this responsibility places a special burden on Israel, particularly because Hamas cynically and monstrously places civilians intentionally in harm's way. Hamas hides behind civilians, uses them as human shields, and places its personnel, equipment, ammunition, weapons, and command posts underneath hospitals, underneath schools, and in residential complexes. Despite this tactic, democracies like Israel and the United States have a particular obligation to bear the burden of doing everything possible to ensure that civilians are not harmed and to care for those who need assistance.

Ceasefire and Humanitarian Considerations

Regarding a ceasefire at that moment, the speaker stated that such an arrangement would simply consolidate what Hamas has been able to do and allow it to remain in place and potentially repeat its actions on another day. No nation would tolerate that. However, the United States does believe that humanitarian pauses must be considered to ensure that assistance can reach those who need it and that people can be protected and removed from harm's way. The speaker emphasized that the situation cannot revert to the status quo where, once the conflict ends, Hamas returns to governance and so-called security responsibility for Gaza, as that would simply invite a repetition of what occurred.