Gaza ceasefire: Obama is criticised for 'bothsides-ing' genocide

Social media users have accused former US President Barack Obama of dehumanising Palestinians and "bothsides-ing" genocide for a social media post about the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. 

"After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered," Obama posted on X on Thursday. 

He continued: "It now falls on Israelis and Palestinians, with the support of the US and the entire world community, to begin the hard task of rebuilding Gaza – and to commit to a process that, by recognizing the common humanity and basic rights of both peoples, can achieve a lasting peace."

Many users criticised the choice to reference "Israeli families" while referring to Palestinians as "the people of Gaza".

"For Obama, Israel has families, but Gaza just has people. Israelis are hostages being held but Gazans are merely 'those' who need aid," posted one user.

"The ‘people’ of Gaza are Palestinians. They have survived a genocide and an ongoing attempt to eliminate them for over a century,” Palestinian-American human rights attorney Noura Erakat added.

Several argued that the distinction was not merely stylistic, but part of a long-standing rhetorical pattern in western political language.

Sana Saeed, a media critic, wrote: “this wasn’t a deliberate demarcation of humanity; it’s reflex. A masterclass in seven words on how Palestinians are rendered faceless and nameless when slaughtered, while Israelis are granted empathy - especially when they are the butchers.”

“When they deign to mention Palestinians at all, they must always throat-clear by mentioning Israelis first. Thems the rules," said journalist Barry Malone.

Several social media users highlighted Obama’s use of the word “conflict” to describe Israel’s assault on Gaza, which the UN, genocide and legal experts, and international rights organisations have concluded constitutes a genocide. 

"'Conflict' connotes that this was a war with two equal sides and not a genocide/wiping out of an entire region and its infrastructure," responded one user.

"It’s a GENOCIDE," responded historian Assal Rad. "There is no accountability without acknowledging it, and there is no justice without accountability."

Several users said the framing constituted a “bothsides-ing” of a situation defined by Israeli occupation and siege.

Middle East Eye has contacted Obama for comment.

This is not the first time Obama, a leading voice in the Democratic Party, has faced criticism for his language on Israel and Palestine. 

In an October 2023 statement, he supported Israel's "right to defend itself", while also warning Israel and the US against ignoring the plight of Palestinians. Some social media users and commenters at the time argued he was "bothsides-ing" Israel's assault, and that his statement did not address the roots of the crisis.

Users criticised another X post, published on 7 October 2024, for mentioning the victims of Hamas' attack but not the estimated 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza who had been killed by Israel at that point, or the victims Israel's bombing and invasion of Lebanon.

The Israeli bombardment and siege of Gaza since October 2023 have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, while decimating the enclave's infrastructure and displacing almost its entire population.

On Thursday, Hamas and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement and agreed to exchange Israeli captives - living and deceased - in exchange for Palestinian captives in the first phase of the deal.