White House spokesperson John Kirby slammed for saying that Israel is doing a better job at protecting civilians than 'our own military'

• This caused outrage, with one writer suggesting the Pentagon would take issue with the comparison involving American troops 

White House spokesperson John Kirby was slammed after he claimed that the Israeli military is doing a better job at protecting civilians in Gaza than their American counterparts would.

Kirby was challenged by a reporter Tuesday regarding the Israeli Defense Forces’ response to the terror attack by Hamas on October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis.

The IDF has responded with a military operation that has killed over 28,000 Palestinians and displaced 2.3million, according to officials in Gaza.

Kirby said that he has seen the IDF ‘take actions – sometimes actions that that even I’m not sure our own military would take – in terms of informing civilian populations ahead of operations, where to go or not to go. They have taken steps.’

This caused anger by many on social media, particularly on the left, where The Nation writer Jeet Heer argued: ‘If I were in the Pentagon I’d be very upset that a government spokesperson was saying that the US military is less mindful of civilian life than the IDF.’

White House spokesperson John Kirby was slammed after he claimed that the Israeli military is doing a better job at protecting civilians in Gaza than their American counterparts would

Kirby was challenged by a reporter Tuesday regarding the Israeli Defense Forces’ response to the terror attack by Hamas on October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis

Kirby himself is a retired Navy Rear Admiral.

Ryan Grim of The Intercept added, citing recent Israeli military operations: ‘This guy has lost it.’

‘This is the American government quite literally willing to sully the image of their own military – undoubtedly the most sacred institution in the country – and sacrifice it so that Israel can continue its carnage. Absolutely unreal,’ added entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand.

Another user on X joked: ‘Yeah this will do wonders for fixing the issue of military recruitment!’

Kirby did admit that the casualties and the displacement were still too high for Washington’s liking.

‘Now, obviously, those steps, while noteworthy, haven’t been enough to reduce the civilian casualties, which is why the president spoke so forthrightly about it yesterday and why we’re going to continue to do everything we can to press the Israelis to be more careful,’ he said.

However, The Hill reporter Niall Stanage, unsatisfied, replied: ‘But respectfully, [Biden’s] been talking forcefully about it for a long time. And the Israelis are now– have hammered people into this tiny corner in southwest Gaza, tied up against the Egyptian border where people think that a looming catastrophe [inaudible]. Shouldn’t there be more forceful action than just words?’

Kirby noted that ‘we are working very, very closely with our Israeli counterparts’ and added that they would not support a military operation in Rafah that did not account for refugees.

Kirby said that he has seen the IDF ‘take actions – sometimes actions that that even I’m not sure our own military would take – in terms of informing civilian populations ahead of operations, where to go or not to go. They have taken steps’

President Biden welcomed Jordan´s King Abdullah II to the White House Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward.

The meeting with Abdullah comes as Biden and his aides are working to broker another pause in Israel’s war against Hamas in order to send humanitarian aid and supplies into the region and get hostages out.

The White House faces growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration’s continued support for Israel in the face of rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its October 7 attack on Israel.

‘The key elements of the deal are on the table,’ Biden said alongside the king, though ‘there are gaps that remain.’

He said the U.S. would do ‘everything possible’ to make an agreement happen: a pause to fighting for at least six weeks and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

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