WASHINGTON, Nov 15 The US does not want attacks from the air on hospitals in Gaza, but Israel does not warn Washington about its operations and should not consult about them, said White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby.
«We don't want to see hospitals being attacked from the air. We don't want to see civilians and medical staff getting caught in the crossfire. We believe hospitals need to be protected,» Kirby told reporters.
He noted that the United States is aware of cases of Hamas using hospitals as its command centers, warehouses or barracks.
Kirby added that decisions about the conduct of its military operations rest with Israel, so the actions around the hospital were also not coordinated by the United States. «Israel conducts its operations in accordance with its plan and procedures. The United States is not included in these procedures… We do not expect Israel to consult with us or inform us before conducting tactical operations,» Kirby said.
At the same time, he said that the United States is in contact with Israel regularly.
The Israelis claim that the ruling Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip is placing military infrastructure in hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including the largest Al-Shifa clinic.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization's fighters penetrated into the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest government data, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip exceeded 11.5 thousand people, more than 29 thousand people were injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.