At a summit in Bahrain on Saturday, a US official stated that far more humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza if Hamas released the hostages it is holding. In doing so, Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, effectively conceded that Israel is subjecting the people of Gaza to collective punishment.
Collective punishment is a war crime.
“A release of large numbers of hostages would result in a significant pause in fighting. A significant pause in fighting,” McGurk stated, “and a massive surge of humanitarian relief. Hundreds and hundreds of trucks on a sustained basis entering Gaza from Egypt.”
“This is the pathway to a pause in the fighting. The release of hostages,” McGurk added. “The onus here is on Hamas. This is the path. Simply calling for ceasefire is not a path to peace.”
Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International, argued that McGurk’s words violated the laws of armed conflict.
McGurk explained the United States would keep its disagreements with Israel private. “ We will not tell another country how to grieve or how to protect itself, ” McGurk said. “But as friends and partners, we will do our best. And offer our best advice and counsel.”
McGurk […] is now one of the most influential advisers shaping Biden’s response to the war in Gaza .