WATCH: US State department presser blatantly dodges questions on killing of Palestinian children and civilians

WEB DESK: In a recent press conference at the US State Department, spokesperson Mathew Miller faced sharp criticism for deflecting questions on the killing of Palestinian children and civilians by Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

MUST SEE: Journalists @SMArikat, @MaxBlumenthal, and @samhusseini grill State Department over Israeli “war crimes” and “genocidal rhetoric”

“Will you urge Israel not to starve and slaughter people, please??” pic.twitter.com/kcRrZCITe9

— Decensored News (@decensorednews) October 11, 2023

During the presser, journalists directed several questions to Miller, but he opted to sidestep them entirely.  Journalist Sam Husseini sought Miller’s response on urging Israel to refrain from “starving and slaughtering” Palestinian civilians. However, Miller avoided the question by redirecting the discussion.

Husseini said: “People in Palestine are being bombed, and you are totally silent, and giving greenlight to Israel a greenlight. This is Absurd.”

After not a word of criticism of Israel was uttered at the State Dept briefing for the first 15 minutes, I spoke up.

In the course of the event I asked a series of questions including:

“Does Israel have a right to kill civilians, Matt?”

"Will You Urge Israel to Not Starve and… https://t.co/GEyLXWSXrX

— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) October 11, 2023

In another instance, journalist Said Arikat inquired, “Israel is recognised as a democracy, and the cutoff of essential services like water, electricity, food, and medicine is internationally considered a war crime. Do you call on Israel to halt its efforts to restrict humanitarian aid in Palestine?”

Read More: Erdogan calls Israeli bombing of Gaza ‘massacre’

However, Miller asserted that it was Israel’s “right” to respond aggressively to recent acts of terrorism by Hamas. He said: “Do you expect Israel to follow international law, after the terrorist attack by Hamas?”

Meanwhile, when pressed about intentional targeting of civilians by Israel and awareness of Palestinian children killings, Miller evaded by referring to “public reports.”

A critical moment unfolded when editor of The Grayzone News Max Blumenthal raised concerns about the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and Israel’s “genocidal rhetoric”. Blumenthal confronted Miller with questions about the deaths of Palestinian children resulting from Israeli bombings in residential areas.

Miller responded by saying, “Why we are forgetting that Israel had a terrorist attack by Hamas, and it has right to protect the country like every country does.”