U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday that the United States did not sign off on Israel’s raid on Shifa hospital. Kirby, responding to questions about the timing of the operation and his statement that the U.S. knows Hamas militants shelter in hospitals, said the United States doesn’t expect advance notice from Israel before its military operations.
Quick Read
- U.S. Stance on Shifa Hospital Raid: U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby clarified that the United States did not approve or have prior knowledge of Israel’s military operation at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The U.S. does not expect advance notice of Israeli military actions.
- Timing of U.S. Intelligence Disclosure: Kirby addressed the timing of his announcement regarding U.S. intelligence findings on Hamas using hospitals for military purposes. He stated that the disclosure of this “downgraded” intelligence was coincidental and unrelated to Israel’s operation timing.
- Legal Implications of Using Hospitals in Warfare: Kirby emphasized that it is a violation of the law of war for military operations to be headquartered in a hospital. He acknowledged Shifa as a legitimate, functioning hospital and pointed out the legal issues with Hamas’s alleged actions.
The Associated Press has the story:
White House: US didn’t know about Israel raid on Al Shifa hospital beforehand
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday that the United States did not sign off on Israel’s raid on Shifa hospital.
Kirby, responding to questions about the timing of the operation and his statement that the U.S. knows Hamas militants shelter in hospitals, said the United States doesn’t expect advance notice from Israel before its military operations.
“We did not give an OK to their military operations around the hospital,” Kirby said, speaking to reporters from San Francisco, where President Joe Biden was preparing to meet with China’s leader on Wednesday. “We don’t expect the Israelis to inform us.”
Kirby suggested the timing of his announcement about U.S. intelligence findings that Hamas uses hospitals for command and control and for shelter followed the Israeli military operation was a coincidence. He said his delivery of some “downgraded” intelligence information “had nothing to do with operational timing.”
He said “it is a violation of the law of war to headquarter yourself in a hospital” and that what Hamas is doing in that regard should not be forgotten. Kirby said Shifa is an “active, legitimate hospital.
