‘I won’t stay silent on Gaza suffering’

Vice President Kamala Harris said, “I won’t stay silent on Gaza suffering.” Vice President Harris, I agree you should not stay silent, and I suggest you tell the world this.

In response to the Oct 7 massacre, Israel is responding to the attacks to ensure Hamas will not have the ability to repeat the bloodshed it inflicted on Israel’s civilian population, a carnage it vowed to repeat until Israel is “free from the river to the sea” of Jews.

Vice president Harris, you can add the following about Israel: no other country, including the United States, warns civilians of impending attacks against military targets while the enemy purposely targets civilian populations. No other country, including the United States, sends food, medical supplies and provisions to the civilians while the enemy steals the supplies of food, water and other provisions. So, with all due respect, I suggest you direct your condemnations and reprimands at Hamas not Israel.

John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies with the Modern War Institute at West Point, said that he sees a military [Israel’s IDF] “with the capability to rapidly eviscerate Hamas’ army being held back by the international community.” He feels that the US bears some of the responsibility for the devastation in Gaza because of how it has slowed down and limited Israel’s ability to win the war. It is a restraint that he says, “the US hasn’t imposed on its own military campaigns, and it has the effect of increasing Palestinian casualties and suffering by dragging out the fighting.”

Spencer adds that “it is difficult to see the path to peace from here, but I can tell you with strong certainty that the surest way to continue the violence in the Middle East is to let Hamas survive this war.”

Spencer continued, “in the Biden-Harris administration’s criticism of Israel they are erasing a remarkable, historic new standard Israel has set. In my long career studying and advising on urban warfare for the US military I’ve never known an army to take such measures to attend to the enemy’s civilian population, especially while simultaneously combating the enemy in the very same buildings. In fact, by my analysis, Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history—above and beyond what international law requires and more than the US did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

So, Vice President Harris, spare us the hypocritical criticisms, rebukes, and scoldings of Israel for “not doing enough.” And if you must raise your voice, do it by demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages and surrender. If they would do that, it would end the suffering of the people of Gaza, while denying Hamas the ability to repeat their barbaric crimes and unspeakable atrocities they committed against Israel on Oct 7.