As airstrikes raged in northern Gaza last October, a Pentagon official warned the White House about the humanitarian impact of evacuating over a million Palestinians.
Dana Stroul, then the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, expressed fears that the mass evacuation could lead to war crimes.
This warning was highlighted in previously undisclosed emails reviewed by Reuters, which reveal the administration’s struggle to manage rising casualties while supporting Israel post-Hamas attacks.
The conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths in Gaza, leading to increased protests in the U.S. from Arab-American communities.
The emails indicated early alarm within the administration about the potential violation of international law and the risk to U.S.-Arab relations.
Although the U.S. pushed Israel for a delay in its ground offensive, many officials felt the pause was due to military preparations rather than American pressure.
In a shift on October 13, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians.
President Biden later prioritized humanitarian aid as the conflict escalated.
Meanwhile, U.S. military support for Israel continued, despite concerns over its humanitarian implications.