In a social media post marking 100 days of Israeli war, the US Secretary of State failed to mention the nearly 24,000 Palestinians who were killed in the Gaza Strip. Palestine’s mission to the United Nations criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for this omission. They called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and criticized those who remain complicit in not doing so. Blinken’s post only referred to the captives taken by Hamas and the US government’s vow to bring them back.
The total of 24,100 Palestinians, including more than 9,600 children, have been killed, and about 61,000 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. The White House statement marking the 100th day of the war also made no mention of Palestinian killings and displacement of residents. US President Joe Biden lamented the capture of the captives and laid blame on Hamas for failing to extend a deal to return more of them. Meanwhile, Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza continues with no signs of abating, as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave deepens and threats of a regional spillover of the war loom. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until victory, but faces domestic pressure over bringing the captives back. Global calls to end the war continue, with rallies held across the world and the US capital seeing one of its largest turnouts yet.