Former President Barack Obama on Friday publicly criticized Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza, stating that “there’s not a military rationale for continuing to pummel what is already rubble” and arguing for Palestinian statehood. Obama also criticized political leaders for failing to resolve hostilities and singled out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The United Nations has warned that Israel’s plans to invade Gaza City would put about 1 million Palestinians who live there at risk of being forcibly displaced. The Israeli military told CNN that 640,000 people have left the city since the incursion began, though that estimate is difficult to verify. Their statements, combined with the U.S. peace plan and the recognition of a Palestinian state by some Western nations, signal a significant shift in international relations.