Cornel West Condemns Israeli Bombardment of Gaza, Calls it a Genocide

(NewsNation) — Presidential candidate Cornel West has strongly criticized the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in its ongoing conflict with Hamas, comparing it to a genocide. In an interview on “CUOMO,” West condemned the military operation, stating that nearly 7,000 children have been killed in less than 45 days.

West’s comments come after news broke that Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for the release of approximately 50 hostages, marking the first pause in the month-long war. The conflict began when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people.

In response to the initial attack, Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on targets in Gaza and subsequently launched a ground invasion. Recently, Israeli military forces reached Al-Shifa Hospital, which Israel claims is being used as a Hamas command and control center.

Hamas has denied these allegations, while Israel has presented photos and videos showing weapons stored inside the hospital, a tunnel shaft on the hospital grounds, and a blast door leading to a tunnel.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, over 11,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israeli offensive. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants, although approximately two-thirds of the deceased have been identified as women and minors. Israel asserts that thousands of Hamas militants have been killed.

While West acknowledged that Hamas was “wrong” for its attack on Israel, he argued that they were driven by suffering. He criticized both the U.S. and Israeli governments for not paying attention to the plight of Palestinian children.

The conflict in Gaza has sparked major protests around the world, including on college campuses in the United States. Aid organizations have also called for a cease-fire to enable the delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza.

West, alongside others, has called on Israel to implement a cease-fire. He emphasized the importance of holding all parties accountable for war crimes and highlighted the ongoing structural oppression faced by Palestinians since the establishment of Israel in 1948. West likened the situation to the experience of Native Americans, citing the historical mistreatment and unfavorable deals offered to indigenous communities by the U.S. government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.