Ankara: A leading global genocide prevention group stated on Tuesday that recent remarks made by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the situation in Gaza amount to 'outright genocide denial.'
According to Anadolu Agency, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention released a statement following Clinton's comments at the Israel Hayom Summit in New York last week. Clinton had asserted that Israel suffers from 'the worst PR of any group' and suggested that young Americans are swayed by 'pure propaganda' on TikTok. The institute argues that these claims misrepresent the growing public concern over Israel's actions in Gaza.
The statement by the Lemkin Institute emphasized that young Americans are not easily misled, but rather, they reject genocide-a stance that the institute suggests Clinton should also adopt. The statement highlighted that Americans have been exposed to 'two years of videos depicting Israel's genocide against Palestinians,' including footage from journalists and civilians within Gaza.
The institute criticized Clinton, a former presidential candidate, for failing to address mass civilian casualties, focusing instead on 'the narrative' and the challenges of 'controlling' information that is widely accessible online. It posited that Clinton's remarks imply dissatisfaction with TikTok's ability to censor content, despite accusations that the platform has already suppressed pro-Palestinian content. The institute pointed out the irony of these accusations, especially in light of TikTok's recent hire of a former Israeli army instructor to oversee hate speech policies.
The statement underscored that leading human rights organizations, UN agencies, international legal experts, and scholars have classified Israel's actions in Gaza as meeting the legal criteria for genocide. The institute encouraged Clinton to familiarize herself with these assessments.
Further, the group criticized Clinton's focus on public relations, suggesting it reflects a lack of factual grounding. It asserted that no amount of PR can conceal the evidence emerging from Gaza and labeled her remarks as genocide denial. The institute also commended young people for their courage in speaking out despite potential risks.