Obama Weighs In On The Debate Over The Israel-Hamas Conflict

by Daniel Johnson

November 4, 2023

In a tone similar to the one he assumed throughout much of his presidency, Obama tried to strike the middle ground on a topic that has seemed to polarize the larger American population.

Barack Obama weighed in Israel-Hamas war on Nov. 2, calling it a “moral reckoning for all of us.” In a tone similar to the one he assumed throughout much of his presidency, Obama tried to strike the middle ground on a topic that has seemed to polarize the larger American population.

During his remarks at the Obama Foundation’s Democracy Forum, the former 44th President of the United States of America, said, “All of this is taking place against the backdrop of decades of failure to achieve a durable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. One that is based on genuine security for Israel, a recognition of its right to exist, and a peace that is based on an end of the occupation and the creation of a viable state and self-determination for the Palestinian people.”

As The Hill reported, Obama did acknowledge that it is difficult for people not to have strong feelings about the way that they have seen innocent people killed. Families mourning in videos that have made the rounds on social media.

Obama pointed out, “Now, I will admit, it is impossible to be dispassionate in the face of this carnage. It is hard to feel hopeful. The images of families mourning, of bodies being pulled from rubble, force a moral reckoning on all of us.”

His former vice president and current president, Joe Biden, has been less than willing to embrace a ceasefire, which many humanitarian organizations have been calling for so aid can reach Gaza. Fourteen senators have already called for Biden to speak out for a ceasefire. 

A joint statement released by the senators, who included Ed Markey, Mark Warner, and Chris Murphy, echoes the statement of former President Obama, “The failure to adequately protect non-combatant civilians risks dramatic escalation of the conflict in the region and imposes severe damage on prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.”

On Twitter, users were critical of Obama’s remarks, and they have been extremely critical of Biden’s response. As one person tweeted, “Quintessential Obama move here where he briefly seems to show guilt for his role in Israel’s genocidal project only to try and diminish that guilt by arguing that ‘everyone’” ‘ is complicit and that really it’s just a super complicated issue and “everyone” has blood on their hands”

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