As Israel expands operations against Hamas, it has cut Gaza’s internet and phone communications which led ABC Good Morning America Saturday host Janai Norman to raise the idea of “potential war crimes,” a suggestion that was politely and subtly batted down by military contributor and former commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, retired Gen. Robert Abrams.
Norman explained that “I want to ask you about that because, when it comes to combatants versus civilians, cutting off communications from internet and cell phone, that impacts so many people. There have been humanitarian and journalism organizations impacted.”
She also cited the fact that, “The U.N. has expressed concerns about potential war crimes” and wondered “I mean, where do you see a line whether there should be one drawn? What is the impact of cutting off Gaza from the rest of the world?”
Abrams essentially replied that if anyone has a problem with Israel cutting internet and telecommunications in Gaza, they should blame Hamas, “Well, there is certainly a number, as you pointed out, unintended consequences of really a military effort to isolate Hamas because Hamas is completely 100 percent intertwined with civilian society. You cannot separate them. They’re conjoined, if you will. ”
Speaking more broadly about the campaign as a whole, Abrams added, “So any military action against a legitimate military target like cutting off Hamas from the rest of the world is going to have an unintended consequence on the people of the — the innocent people and noncombatants. And this is the biggest challenge, I think, that Israel faces, distinguishing and dealing and separating noncombatants from combatants.”
Abrams is, of course, correct. The idea that Israel is under some legal obligation to make it easier for its enemy to communicate is ridiculous. If the U.N., journalists, and people of Gaza do not like having their internet and phones cut, they should demand Hamas surrender and go away forever.
Here is a transcript for the October 28 show:
ABC Good Morning America
10/28/2023
8:16 AM ET
JANAI NORMAN: And I want to ask you about that because, when it comes to combatants versus civilians, cutting off communications from internet and cell phone, that impacts so many people. There have been humanitarian and journalism organizations impacted. The U.N. has expressed concerns about potential war crimes. I mean, where do you see a line whether there should be one drawn? What is the impact of cutting off Gaza from the rest of the world?
ROBERT ABRAMS: Well, there is certainly a number, as you pointed out, unintended consequences of really a military effort to isolate Hamas because Hamas is completely 100 percent intertwined with civilian society. You cannot separate them. They’re conjoined, if you will. So any military action against a legitimate military target like cutting off Hamas from the rest of the world is going to have an unintended consequence on the people of the — the innocent people and noncombatants. And this is the biggest challenge, I think, that Israel faces, distinguishing and dealing and separating noncombatants from combatants.