Former US President Barack Obama says he is in full support of military action against Hamas and the sitting president’s decision to support Israel in defending its citizens and assets.

In his statement, Obama acknowledges the situation that has unfolded, with Hamas launching a devastating attack against Israel. He highlights the devastating toll this conflict has taken on both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly.

Obama said: “Israel has a right to defend its citizens against such wanton violence, and I fully support President Biden’s call for the United States to support our long-time ally in going after Hamas, dismantling its military capabilities, and facilitating the safe return of hundreds of hostages to their families.”

But he also highlights the importance of Israel’s military strategy aligning with international law. He underlines the moral obligation to minimise civilian casualties and suffering during military operations.

He commends Israel’s recent decision to allow relief trucks into Gaza and encourages the international community to accelerate critical aid and supplies to the desperate Gaza population. While peace might seem distant, he calls for engagement with Palestinian leaders and organisations recognising Israel’s right to exist to pave the way for a two-state solution.

Obama pointed out that in dealing with what is an extraordinarily complex situation where so many people are in pain and passions are understandably running high, all people need to put their best values, rather than their worst fears, on display.

He adds that putting people’s best values on display means to actively oppose antisemitism, anti-Muslin, anti-Arab or anti-Palestine sentiments, including lumping all Palestinians with Hamas or downplaying Palestinian suffering and recognising Israel’s right to exist.

The toll on the Palestinian population in Gaza is a matter of concern. Thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives, with many being children, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes. President Obama underscores the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded and how it might harden Palestinian attitudes, erode global support for Israel, and play into the hands of Israel’s adversaries.

President Obama calls attention to the complexity of this task, recognising the inherent challenges of minimising harm in the midst of a conflict and reminds that even the United States has faced similar moral dilemmas in the past.

The former US leader highlights the importance of global perception in shaping Israel’s long-term security. He acknowledges that the world closely watches events in the region and that military strategies that ignore the human costs could ultimately have adverse consequences.