The US State Department appears to be conflicted about whether Israel adheres to different moral standards than Hamas.
Yesterday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters there was no “double standard” of expectations on either side in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
“Is there a double standard? The answer is no,” Blinken said Monday while discussing the department’s report on human rights abuses in the region.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a press conference at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. (Britta Pedersen/Photo Alliance via Getty Images)
He continued: “As this report makes clear, in general we apply the same standards to everyone when considering human rights and the human rights situation around the world.” Stated.
But Ambassador David Satterfield, the State Department’s special envoy for Middle East humanitarian affairs, appeared to directly refute that claim on Tuesday, saying that, in fact, a different standard of conduct is expected of Israel in conflicts.
“When it comes to Israel, we demand a completely different standard of behavior from Israel because this is the right and moral thing to do,” Satterfield told reporters.
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Anbu. David Satterfield, the State Department’s Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Affairs, speaks at a Senate Foreign Relations Hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
He added: “And, as I said in my remarks, the President, on his visit to Israel immediately after October 7, said that it was not only strategically important to do this, but morally the right thing to do.” “This is a matter of remorse.” What is Israel? A democratic country with values. ”
The State Department’s annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices features Israel prominently, with the first page usually given to the most egregious human rights abusers, and the country’s efforts to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties. It featured concerns about preventive measures.
In his foreword to the report, Blinken cited human rights concerns about the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, even before Iran or the Afghan Taliban.
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As the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas continues in the Palestinian territories, Israeli tanks have entered the area along the border between the Gaza Strip and southern Israel. (Ronaldo Shemit/AFP via Getty Images)
The Secretary of State explained that the United States has been “clear” that Israel must follow international law and “take every possible precaution to protect civilians.” Blinken stressed that his department remains “urgent” concerned about civilian deaths in Gaza during the war.
The report noted that the US also “repeatedly” raised concerns about access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, the displacement of civilians, and the “unprecedented” death of a journalist.
Israel was mentioned before the Biden administration’s State Department cited “ongoing brutal human rights abuses in Iran” and “the Taliban’s systematic abuse and discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan.”
Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
