Biden says Israel's response in Gaza to October 7 Hamas attack 'over the top'

[David__77]

Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip to the shock October 7 attack by Hamas has been “over the top,” US President Joe Biden says.

“I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top,” he tells reporters at the White House during an evening address that was announced only about two hours earlier.

The president adds that he’s “pushing very hard now to get a sustained pause” in fighting that could also free the remaining hostages in Gaza abducted from Israel on October 7.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-9-2024/#liveblog-entry-3220103

[Tetrachloride]

1. war crimes

[TexasDem69]

3. Where in the world did President Biden mention war crimes

Or genocide, or ethnic cleansing? None of that has occurred, and he’s been firm in his support of Israel and its right of self-defense, so rein in the hyperbole.

President Biden has supported Israel’s conduct since October 7, but if he thinks it’s time to think about a pause then I’m with him.

[DemocraticPatriot]

14. The poster didn't say that President Biden called anything a 'war crime'...

so rein in the 'adding words into other people's posts'.

That was clearly their own opinion on the matter--- and I might add, the opinion of a great many others in regard to certain specific actions in this war, that war crimes have been committed there. As for myself, I would say that war crimes *may have* been committed by some members of the IDF, and those who gave specific orders.

Bombing hospitals, ambulances and refugee camps??? Certainly a credible argument can be made that those were 'war crimes'....
regardless of whether one or two terrorists were suspected to be hiding in the basement.

Now before you get up on your high horse, I do also state that many of the acts committed by Hamas on October 7th and since, were clearly war crimes: crimes against humanity. What they did in no way excuses the level of 'collateral damage' that Israel has caused to civilians in Gaza--

Israel suffered about 1200 casualties on Oct. 7th. The deaths in Gaza are now approching 30,000.

President Biden was ESPECIALLY correct when he used the words "over the top".


I don't believe that the Israeli campaign against Gaza is deliberate genocide or ethnic cleansing by their definitions---
but I can understand why some people would believe it to be so---
especially those who wake up (or never wake up) on the wrong side of the bombs.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. That's kinda funny because I never heard him say anything about war crimes.

Maybe you can post a link where he said that?

[DemocraticPatriot]

15. They never said that Biden mentioned 'war crimes'.

I understood that to be the poster's own opinion on the matter---
an opinion that is shared by many others.

I submit that acts of bombing hospitals and refugee camps can be credibly argued to have possibly been a 'war crime'.
I'm not saying it was, nor that it wasn't--- but *maybe* it was,
and I understand the reasoning of people who think so.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

16. Yeah, I read your other reply and it's my opinion that the poster is alluding

that Pres. Biden is calling it a war crime.

That's my opinion, others have differing opinions.

[Celerity]

18. your opinion faces up as incorrect IMHO, the other poster clearly was not insinuating Biden called it war crimes

[MarineCombatEngineer]

19. That's your opinion, not mine. nt

[The Magistrate]

23. What I Caught For Meaing In The Post, Ma'am

Was that the poster was 'translating', claiming 'over the top' really meant 'war crimes', whether that was Mr. Biden's intended meaning or no. For days, that poster will be proclaiming 'Biden admits Israel's committing genocide' at favorable opportunity, on the strength of that 'a bit over the top'.

[Celerity]

24. If, Sir, the poster does this:

For days, that poster will be proclaiming 'Biden admits Israel's committing genocide' at favorable opportunity, on the strength of that 'a bit over the top'.

then I will take issue with that as well, as that potential claim (if made by the other poster) would be 'over the top' (to put it mildly) as well.

[The Magistrate]

25. That's The Prediction Of An Extremely Jaundiced Prophet, Ma'am

He may not live down to my expectation, people don't always.

I've never seen you take a position didn't seem fairly considered, even ones I don't agree with. And you are formidably well-informed....

[Kath2]

2. I agree.

I am for a ceasefire now.

[ripcord]

6. It is disgusting that Israel has to negotiate with terrorists

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. Ok, a cease fire is instituted, now what?

Does Hamas stay in power to regroup, rearm and continue to attack Israel?
You do know that the sole purpose of Hamas is to wipe Israel off the map and kill each and every Jew in the ME and the world?

[David__77]

8. I am for the US ceasing military support.

While the US cannot force there to be a ceasefire, it need not provide weapons being used to kill many children.

[ripcord]

4. Israel probably won't be getting any hostages back alive

[AloeVera]

10. Hamas offered to return them in exchange for a ceasefire.

Netanyahu rejected it.

If I were in a hostage family I would want to throttle him.

It seems that freeing the hostages does not take priority over other goals. That's awful on many levels and must be unbearable torment for the remaining hostages and their families. My heart goes out to them as to the innocent Palestinians who are also suffering or dead, sadly now with more to come.

I hope you are wrong.

[TheKentuckian]

11. It was unwise to negotiate at all. Previous such actions precipitated this one.

Allowing hostages to function as leverage guarantees more hostage taking because it works.

My heart also goes out to the hostages and their family and friends but no so much so that I would pave the road to even more tortured souls and grieving loved ones.

If they cannot be rescued they must be considered lost.

It is the only way.

The tactic must not be rewarded with anything but death.

[AloeVera]

20. Do you see?

But you see it IS paving the way for more tortured souls and grieving loved ones.

You see what I'm getting at?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. So reward Hamas for taking hostages in the first place which will inspire them to take more

hostages for more concessions?
Yeah, there's a brilliant plan.

[The Magistrate]

17. That Does Seem the Plan, Sir

The ultimate concern, that matters more than anything, is that Hamas not emerge from this bombardment with atrocity en masse validated as a tool of war that gets results, which forces concessions.

[AloeVera]

21. I suppose you could take it up with President Biden

He is the one pushing for a ceasefire.

I'm just a nobody but I happen to agree with him on this.

[The Magistrate]

26. He Is Pushing For A Cease-Fire And Freeing Of Kidnapped Captives, Sir

The first is acceptable with the second, without that, it is not.

And it's a fairly safe posture to strike, there does not seem to be any danger of Hamas accepting such a deal in the near future. There haven't been nearly enough Gaza residents killed and maimed yet for their purposes.

[AloeVera]

27. But that's exactly what Hamas offered mere days ago.

A ceasefire in return for all the hostages.

Netanyahu rejected the offer.

Not enough dead, maimed and starving Gazans for him yet. He has big plans for them too, involving international travel! Failing that, cross-border evacuation. But first he has to destroy what is left of Gaza to make those travel plans inevitable. A ceasefire doesn't fit into those big plans.

Did I somehow misinterpret your post?

[The Magistrate]

28. Not Exactly, Sir

'U.S. President Joe Biden said Hamas's demands are "a little over the top" but that negotiations will continue.'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/netanyahu-israel-hamas-ceasefire-rejection-1.7107943

Hamas coupled freeing captives with demands for release of militants in Israeli custody, and its being continued in governance of Gaza.

It is of utmost importance Hamas be unable to claim any success as a result of its atrocious spree of rape, torture, murder, and kidnapping captives for further torment. Otherwise, atrocity en masse becomes a legitimate tool of 'the liberation struggle' (as atrocity en petit has long been regarded by adherents of the cause), and attempts at repetition are guaranteed.

[ripcord]

13. The ceasefire was way too long

The only purpose of a ceasefire of that length is for Hamas to successfully rearm. Israel offered a 6 week ceasefire to let humanitarian aid get to the Palestinians but Hamas rejected it. All that a truly extended ceasefire will do is put Israelis at risk. That isn't even getting into the fact that Israel has no reason to trust Hamas, remember they broke the last ceasefire for no reason what so ever with a horrific terrorist attack. Israel is forced to negotiate with the terrorists because they hold hostages like cowards. When that is settled you will see how Israel is really going to deal with problem, hopefully starting with the terrorist leaders in Qatar getting a bindi. But the thing to remember it that Israels first responsibility is to protect its citizens and Oct. 7 proved they can't do that while Hamas exists.

[Cha]

22. '''...pushing very hard now to get a sustained pause" in fighting that could also free the remaining hostages in Gaza.

The president adds that he’s “pushing very hard now to get a sustained pause” in fighting that could also free the remaining hostages in Gaza abducted from Israel on October 7.

Thank You, President Biden! 🕊️🕯️💙🌊