Obama warns some of Israel's actions in Gaza may backfire

Former US President Barack Obama said some of Israel's actions in its war against Hamas, like cutting off food and water for Gaza, could weaken international support and "harden Palestinian attitudes for generations".

In rare comments on a foreign policy crisis, Obama said any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs of the war "could ultimately backfire".

"The Israeli government's decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population (in Gaza) threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis; it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel's enemies, and undermine long-term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region," Obama said.

Israel has launched intensive air strikes on Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 killed more than 1,400 people. Gaza officials say Israeli air strikes have killed more than 5,000 Palestinians.

He denounced the Hamas attack and reiterated his support for Israel's right to defend itself, but at the same time, he warned of the dangers to which civilians are exposed in such wars.