Federal judge dismisses case seeking to force U.S. to pressure Israel to stop bombing Gaza

Source: NBC News/AP

Jan. 31, 2024, 11:20 PM EST


OAKLAND, Calif. — A U.S. district judge in California dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to force the Biden administration to do all it could to make Israel stop bombing Gaza.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said he didn’t have jurisdiction over the matter, but he still offered harsh criticism of the administration and said Israel’s actions may amount to genocide.

White heard testimony last Friday in federal court in Oakland in the unusual lawsuit filed in November on behalf of Palestinian human rights organizations and people whose family members are among the more than 26,000 people killed by Israeli forces following the Oct. 7 assault by the militant group Hamas.

The complaint sought an order requiring that President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “adhere to their duty to prevent, and not further, the unfolding genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-dismisses-case-seeking-force-us-pressure-israel-stop-bombing-gaz-rcna136692