WASHINGTON — Former US President Barack Obama has come under fire for his statement on the Gaza ceasefire deal, in which he “dehumanised” Palestinians after two years of Israeli genocide by equating victims with their victimisers and erasing Palestinian suffering.
Mediators announced on Wednesday an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. On Friday, Israel approved the Gaza ceasefire deal.
The deal, covering the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war, paves the way for a suspension of Israeli attacks in Gaza, and the release of Israeli captives.
Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Obama issued a statement.
After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2025
However, the former president has come under fire, with pro-Palestinian advocates and anti-genocide activists accusing him of “dehumanizing” Palestinians in Gaza, erasing the suffering of two million people after two years of Israeli genocide, and equating the victims with their victimizers.
“This is one of the most racist posts I’m seeing after an “end” of a genocide!” wrote Mosab Abu Toha.
This is one of the most racist posts I’m seeing after an “end” of a genocide!
— Mosab Abu Toha (@MosabAbuToha) October 10, 2025
People of Gaza? No families in Gaza? No hostages from Gaza held for months? No Palestinian hostages who died in israeli concentration camps?
No Palestinian families who israel wiped out? Are you even…
Why does Israel have “families” but Gaza just have “people”? https://t.co/TbyRAUnuCo
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 10, 2025
“Israeli families and the people of Gaza” – this wasn’t a deliberate demarcation of humanity; it’s reflex. A masterclass in seven words on how Palestinians are rendered faceless and nameless when slaughtered, while Israelis are granted empathy – especially when they are the… https://t.co/k7KZ8NgHHb
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) October 9, 2025
The “people” of Gaza are Palestinians. They have survived a genocide and an ongoing attempt to eliminate them for over a century. They have failed. https://t.co/6iH3omgvDh
— Noura Erakat (@4noura) October 9, 2025
This @BarackObama tweet will be taught in genocide studies courses as a case study of what dehumanization looks like. pic.twitter.com/pEOCYtuti0
— Zachary Foster (@_ZachFoster) October 9, 2025
This isn’t the first time Obama has dehumanized Palestinians in Gaza. In October 2024, marking the first anniversary of the genocide, he faced criticism for a post that mentioned Israel but failed to acknowledge the more than 41,000 Palestinians who had been killed in Gaza at the time.
In October 2023, he defended Israel’s “right to defend itself” while ignoring the decades-long occupation.
Obama himself was president during Israel’s war on Gaza in 2014 when the Israeli military launched a ground invasion of the besieged enclave.
At the time, he similarly backed Israel’s assault, while calling for a ceasefire. That war also revealed tensions in the US-Israel relationship, with Israel going behind Obama’s back to restock American weapons. — QNN
