US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has taken issue with the use of the term “genocide” by some critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

Responding to a reporter’s question about some pro-Palestinian protestors calling US President Joe Biden “Genocide Joe”, Kirby said people have the right to say what they want, but the word “genocide” is being thrown around inappropriately.

“What Hamas wants, make no mistake about it, is genocide. They want to wipe Israel off the map. They’ve said so publicly on more than one occasion — in fact, just recently,” Kirby said during a media briefing.

Kirby said that although civilian casualties in Gaza are “too high”, Israel is not trying to “wipe the Palestinian people off the map”.