{"id":2073899,"date":"2023-10-20T08:41:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T12:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-department-allows-for-lowering-of-flags-over-hospital-blast\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T08:47:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T12:47:02","slug":"state-department-allows-for-lowering-of-flags-over-hospital-blast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-department-allows-for-lowering-of-flags-over-hospital-blast\/","title":{"rendered":"Flags can be lowered over hospital blast, says State Department."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstate-department-allows-for-lowering-of-flags-over-hospital-blast%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2073899&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The State Department Authorizes Lowering of Flags at U.S. Embassies in Response to Gaza Hospital Blast<\/h2>\n<p>The State \u200cDepartment has\u2062 authorized the \u200bhalfway lowering of \u200dflags at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide in \u200bthe \u200baftermath of a devastating hospital blast\u200b in Gaza. \u2062This marks the first time the Biden administration has taken such action amidst \u2063the ongoing Hamas terrorist attacks on\u2064 Israel, according to a department cable obtained by The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza was targeted in a bombing on October 17. Initially, \u200bmany news outlets, politicians, and individuals rushed to blame \u2063Israel for the attack, citing the Palestinians. However, \u200csubsequent\u2062 evidence, including images and videos, revealed that Israel was not responsible for \u2064the bombing. President Joe Biden also stated that it appeared \u2062Israel was not at \u200dfault. \u2064The \u2062exact number of casualties remains uncertain, as Gaza&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hungary-takes-lead-as-europe-prepares-to-begin-covid-19-vaccinations\/\" title=\"Hungary takes lead as Europe prepares to begin COVID-19 vaccinations\">health ministry<\/a>, controlled by Hamas, is\u200d known for providing unreliable information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The decision to lower flags is \u2064not\u2063 mandatory, but the\u2064 cable states that &#8220;Chiefs of Mission are \u200dauthorized\u200c to lower \u200cflags\u2062 to\u2062 half-staff \u200cto <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-tells-embassies-they-can-lower-flag-to-mourn-gaza-hospital-blast-report\/\" title=\"Biden Admin allows embassies to lower flag for Gaza hospital blast.\">observe national periods<\/a> \u200bof\u2062 mourning following an official proclamation by the host government \u200bwith respect to\u2063 the loss of innocent lives at the Al Ahli \u2062hospital \u200cblast.&#8221;\u2064 The cable emphasizes \u200dthat missions should consider the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swedens-top-airport-hires-company-linked-to-chinese-communists-for-security-screening\/\" title=\"Sweden's Top Airport Hires Company Linked to Chinese Communists for Security Screening\">potential security risks<\/a> \u200band the impact on diplomatic relations with like-minded embassies before making a decision.<\/p>\n<p>According to the cable, U.S. \u2063diplomatic and consular outposts should publicly state that \u200dthe decision to fly \u200bthe flag at half-staff is solely to mourn \u2063the loss \u2064of \u2063innocent\u200c lives. The flags\u2063 may\u2063 be lowered for up to three \u2063days \u2062or in \u200caccordance with recognized customs.<\/p>\n<p>The cable also instructs U.S. posts to review \u2062the language \u2063used by the \u2064host government in their \u2064call for national mourning. This includes determining whether the host \u200dcountry is \u200dmourning innocent lives lost, mourning Hamas and supporting terrorism, or condemning Israel. Regardless, missions must issue \u200ba public\u200c statement clarifying that the flag is\u2063 being lowered \u2063to mourn\u2064 innocent lives and\u2062 not for any other reason.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>At least one U.S. embassy, the embassy in Jordan, has\u2062 already lowered\u200b the American \u200bflag in response \u2063to the \u200bhospital\u2064 bombing, as confirmed by an official post \u200bon X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The recent conflict between Israel and \u2062Hamas has resulted in thousands of deaths\u200b since\u200c October 7. Hamas initiated \u200cthe violence \u200bby launching rockets and invading Israel, causing the deaths of innocent civilians and taking \u200dhostages. In response, \u200cIsrael has conducted an aerial military operation on Gaza, with a ground \u2064invasion expected\u2063 in the \u200bnear future.<\/p>\n<p>It is\u200c worth noting that \u200bthe Biden administration did not\u200d order the\u200b lowering of flags\u2064 following the October\u2064 7 attacks.<\/p>\n<p>State Department\u2064 spokesperson Matthew Miller defended the cable,\u2062 stating that embassies have\u200d the authority to lower flags when a state\u200b of mourning\u2064 is declared\u2062 in the host country. He clarified that Israel did not declare a national day of mourning, hence no flag \u2063lowering. Mr. Miller \u200cexpressed condolences \u200cfor the \u200dinnocent civilians who\u2064 lost their lives in the \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-postpones-summit-with-jordanian-egyptian-and-palestinian-leaders\/\" title=\"White House delays meeting with Jordanian, Egyptian, and Palestinian leaders.\">hospital explosion<\/a> and emphasized\u2063 that the department mourns the loss of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians \u200cin acts of terrorism.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does \u200cthe State Department&#8217;s\u200d decision to lower flags at U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-department-allows-for-lowering-of-flags-over-hospital-blast\/\" title=\"Flags can be lowered over hospital blast, says State Department.\">embassies worldwide\u2064 demonstrate solidarity<\/a> and empathy towards the victims of the Gaza hospital blast?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Fore making the decision to \u200dlower flags.<\/p>\n<p>The State\u2064 Department\u2019s\u200b authorization to lower flags at\u2064 U.S. \u2062embassies and consulates worldwide is a significant gesture \u200cof \u200dsolidarity and empathy \u2064towards the victims of the Gaza hospital blast.\u2064 This tragic incident, regardless of its perpetrators, has caused the loss of innocent lives and deserves recognition and\u2062 remembrance.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200ddecision to lower\u2063 flags comes after initial confusion surrounding the responsibility for the bombing. It is essential to base judgments\u200c on evidence and facts \u2064rather than\u2063 jumping to conclusions based on\u2063 biases or preconceived notions. It is heartening to see that subsequent evidence and the statements of President \u2062Biden have affirmed \u2062Israel&#8217;s innocence in this incident.<\/p>\n<p>However, it is crucial to remain cautious about the information provided by the Gaza health ministry, which is controlled \u200bby Hamas. In the \u2064past, there \u200dhave been instances of unreliable reporting and\u200c manipulation of information to serve political agendas. This highlights the need for impartial and\u2064 verified sources to ascertain\u200b the exact number of\u2063 casualties and the\u200d circumstances of the tragic event.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2062 decision to lower flags is not a mandatory requirement \u2063but serves as a symbol\u2064 of respect and mourning. The State\u200b Department&#8217;s\u2063 cable \u200cexplicitly states that chiefs of mission have the\u2064 authority to lower flags in observance of national\u200d periods of mourning following an official proclamation by the host\u200d government regarding\u200d the loss of innocent lives at \u200cthe Al-Ahli Hospital\u200c blast. This demonstrates a thoughtful and diplomatic approach in addressing \u2064the tragic incident.<\/p>\n<p>However, the cable emphasizes\u200d the need for missions to consider potential \u2064security risks and the impacts on\u200c diplomatic relations with like-minded embassies.\u2064 This\u2064 cautious approach is essential, \u2064particularly in regions where\u2062 tensions and conflicts are ongoing. \u2063While the lowering of flags is a meaningful\u2062 gesture, it \u2063should not compromise\u2062 the\u200b safety and security of diplomatic\u200d personnel or\u2064 escalate\u200b tensions further.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the State Department&#8217;s authorization to lower flags \u200cat U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide in response \u200bto the \u200bGaza hospital \u2063blast is\u200c a demonstration of solidarity, empathy, and respect for the victims. It reflects a \u200bthoughtful approach by considering the evidence and facts surrounding the \u2062incident. While caution\u2063 is necessary, this gesture sends a \u2062powerful message of support to those affected by this tragedy\u2062 and reaffirms the United States&#8217; commitment to peace and stability in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The State Department has allowed the lowering of flags at U.S. embassies globally after a Gaza hospital explosion. This marks the first time the Biden administration has authorized flag lowering during the Hamas attacks on Israel, as per a department cable obtained by The Epoch Times. The Al-Ahli incident prompted this decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1797,"featured_media":2073900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2073899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2073899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1797"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2073899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2073899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2073900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2073899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2073899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2073899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}