October 17, 2023: An internal memo from the US State Department has warned against the use of certain phrases aimed at de-escalating the conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The memo, which circulated around the department on Friday, stated that press materials should not include three phrases, “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm.”
According to The Huffington Post, which viewed the memo, the State Department refused to comment on internal communications.
The memo’s leak, now widely reported, comes as the US reaffirms its staunch support for Israel and its ongoing ferocious assault on the Gaza Strip, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that “the US has Israel’s back” during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Thursday.
As well as Blinken, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also travelled to Israel Friday, saying that US military aid is “rapidly flowing” to Israel. Included in this aid are munitions, air defence capabilities and other equipment.
