John Kirby unapologetically shut down a narrative used by pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday, rejecting accusations that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians.
A reporter asked Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, to respond to pro-Palestinian protesters who have labeled President Joe Biden “genocide Joe” for supporting Israel. Those same protesters, of course, are reluctant to condemn Hamas.
Kirby answered that the White House respects the First Amendment right to free speech but condemned the “inappropriate way” protesters are throwing around accusations of “genocide.”
According to Kirby, if activists want to lob around such accusations, they better hit the right target.
“What Hamas wants — make no mistake about it — is genocide. They want to wipe Israel off the map,” Kirby said.
“They’ve said so publicly on more than one occasion,” he explained. “And they’ve said that they’re not going to stop; what happened on the seventh of October is going to happen again and again and again. And what happened on the seventh of October? Murder. Slaughter of innocent people in their homes or at a music festival. That’s genocidal intentions.”
Kirby then reaffirmed the U.S. stance that Israel should try to limit civilian casualties. But he made it clear the only party guilty of genocidal intentions is Israel’s enemy.
“Israel is not trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map. Israel is not trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against a genocidal terrorist threat,” Kirby said.
Since the war began last month, Kirby has become an unexpected voice of moral clarity.
Kirby told reporters why they should not believe Hamas’ claims about civilian casualties in Gaza and made no apologies for Biden disbelieving the claims; he refused to remove blame from Hamas for blocking civilians from leaving Gaza; and he condemned a reporter for assuming without evidence that Israel is guilty of committing war crimes.
Meanwhile, Kirby has reaffirmed repeatedly Israel’s right, and indeed its responsibility, to defend its citizens from Hamas.
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