nuclear-news

US diplomats told to avoid calls for Gaza ‘ceasefire’

Rt.com 14 Oct 23

A memo to officials suggests Washington will not urge Israel to restrain its military action in the Palestinian enclave

The US State Department has advised diplomats to avoid calling for “de-escalation” or a “ceasefire” in Gaza amid continued fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants, multiple media outlets have reported. US officials have voiced loud support for the Jewish state’s right to “self-defense” in the wake of a deadly Hamas raid last week.

In an email addressed to a small group of officials on Friday, the State Department said US press materials should steer clear of phrases such as “restoring calm,” “end to violence/bloodshed,” or “de-escalation/ceasefire,” unnamed administration officials told NBC News and other outlets.

The Huffington Post, which obtained a copy of the email, called the missive a “stunning signal” and an indication of the White House’s “reluctance to push for Israeli restraint.” The email was sent amid a new round of airstrikes on Gaza in response to a Hamas-led terrorist attack last Saturday.

Asked about the directive, an unnamed State Department official told HuffPo that they would not comment on internal communications………………………………….  https://www.rt.com/news/584883-diplomats-avoid-gaza-ceasefire/

October 17, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, USA