Brown, who took over because the US army’s high officer simply over a month in the past, expressed confidence that Israel was abiding by the legal guidelines of battle in Gaza.
He additionally mentioned there was room for Israel’s army to enhance in its public explanations about its conduct, and that he had raised this along with his Israeli counterpart.
“There’s room for enchancment primarily based on what we’re seeing,” Brown mentioned. “What I’ve talked to him about is how can we exhibit – not solely with the movies but additionally as they speak concerning the strikes – why they’re hanging in some areas, present extra context to the strike.”
Requested whether or not he was involved a excessive Palestinian civilian dying toll might push folks to hitch the ranks of the militants, Brown mentioned: “Sure, very a lot so. And I believe that is one thing now we have to concentrate to.”
“That is why after we speak about time – the sooner you may get to a degree the place you cease the hostilities, you have got much less strife for the civilian inhabitants that turns into somebody who now needs to be the following member of Hamas,” he mentioned.
ISRAEL BRACES FOR LONG, TOUGH WAR
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis the nation is in a “powerful battle” that may even be lengthy.
Israel has blamed Hamas for civilian deaths in Gaza, saying it’s utilizing civilians as human shields and hiding arms and operations centres in residential areas.
Brown stopped in need of advocating for a brief marketing campaign or providing his view of how lengthy Israel’s Gaza operation ought to final.
Brown has overseen air campaigns within the Center East up to now, together with throughout the battle to retake cities in Iraq from Islamic State militants. He mentioned army campaigns can drag on longer than anticipated.
“(Virtually) each battle that I have been concerned with all through my army profession … (has) significantly gone a bit longer than most individuals would have imagined. So we have to arrange ourselves for that,” he mentioned.