In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the implications of a report by Amnesty International regarding civilian casualties in Gaza, particularly in light of Israeli airstrikes. The report claims that 15 airstrikes between October 7 and April resulted in over 300 civilian deaths, including more than 140 children, and asserts that there was no evidence of Hamas military presence in those areas.

While officials acknowledged the importance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society perspectives in shaping foreign policy, they refrained from directly addressing the specifics of the Amnesty report. Instead, they emphasized the complexity of the situation, noting that Hamas often operates within civilian infrastructure, complicating military assessments.

When pressed about whether formal assessments regarding potential genocide or crimes against humanity had been initiated, officials maintained that they could not disclose details about ongoing deliberative processes. They reiterated that previous allegations of genocide related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had been deemed unfounded.

The Israeli foreign ministry has dismissed the Amnesty report as \"deplorable\" and \"fanatical,\" a characterization that U.S. officials did not endorse. They affirmed the critical role of NGOs like Amnesty in analyzing conditions in Gaza.

Additionally, discussions included the efforts of incoming special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been engaging with Israeli and Qatari officials in hopes of facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza. The outcome of these talks remains uncertain as the situation continues to evolve.