White House Addresses Controversial Images of Slain Israeli Children
2 min read
The personal belongings of festival-goers are seen at the site of an attack on the Nova Festival by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
A question concerning the authenticity of photos depicting dead Israeli children allegedly butchered by Hamas has caused a stir at the White House. During a press briefing, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby was asked if the U.S. had independently verified the images released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, showing the lifeless body of a baby and the charred remains of two other children. Kirby’s response drew attention as he stated, “I don’t think we’re going to be in the business of having to validate or approve those images. They’re coming from the prime minister of Israel, and we have absolutely no reason to doubt their authenticity.”
In his post sharing these gruesome images, Netanyahu condemned Hamas, saying, “Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, upon seeing these images during his trip to Israel, described them as “beyond what anyone would ever want to imagine, much less God forbid, experience.” He detailed the horrifying scenes, including infants riddled with bullets, beheaded soldiers, and young people burned alive, labeling it “depravity in the worst imaginable way.”
Notably, Hamas has denied responsibility for these gruesome acts, despite evidence to the contrary. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) discovered the horrifying scene after Hamas terrorists infiltrated Kfar Aza and other communities in southern Israel, leading to about 200 deaths, including approximately 40 dead infants, some of whom were reportedly decapitated, according to local Israeli media.
The conflict in Israel has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people as of Thursday, following the attack launched on Saturday. The situation remains highly complex and deeply tragic, with the White House firmly standing behind the authenticity of the images shared by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
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