Washington sees no sign of genocide in Gaza

US President Joe Biden's administration has rejected accusations of genocide against Israel by several countries, including a NATO ally, insisting that Washington sees no evidence that West Jerusalem forces are committing such acts as they assault the Gaza Strip in a campaign to destroy Hamas.

The South African government filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week, and NATO member Türkiye expressed official support for the charges on Wednesday. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller denounced the allegations in a press conference on Wednesday, saying there was no evidence that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had committed genocide against Palestinians.

“Genocide is, of course, a heinous atrocity, one of the most heinous atrocities that an individual can commit,” Miller said. “These are allegations that should not be taken lightly, and as far as the United States is concerned, we see no act that constitutes genocide.”

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was more sharp in his response, saying the accusations against Israel were “without merit.” He added that the International Court of Justice case brought by South Africa was "counterproductive and completely devoid of any factual basis".

According to Gaza health authorities, since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, more than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed. Last month the United Nations warned that more than 500,000 Gazans were starving due to Israeli bombing and that 85% of the population was displaced. The conflict began when Hamas militants launched surprise attacks on villages in southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people, including nearly 700 Israeli civilians, and transporting hundreds of hostages to Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has compared Israel's military campaign in the Palestinian enclave to Nazi Germany's Holocaust against the Jewish people. He also criticized Western countries for supporting Israeli tactics and suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was as genocidal as Adolf Hitler in Germany.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan argued on Wednesday that by giving "unconditional support" to Israel, Western countries have lost all credibility in talking about "principles, virtues and morality." He added: “I see this as opening the way to a huge geostrategic rift.”

Miller's comments came a day after the US State Department criticized the "inflammatory and irresponsible" statements of two Israeli politicians calling for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Ben Gvir reiterated his statement Tuesday, saying: "With all due respect, we are not another star on the American flag."

Calls for a mass expulsion of Palestinians contradict official Israeli government policy and the views of the United States, Miller told reporters Wednesday. “They are in direct contradiction to his own government's policies and we believe these statements should stop,” he said of Gvir's rhetoric.

However, Miller added that it was appropriate for the IDF to ask Gazans to “temporarily” leave their homes if Israeli forces conducted “legitimate military operations” in their neighborhoods.