Cornel West calls Obama a war criminal for helping 'facilitate' Palestinian deaths in Gaza

Civil right activist Cornel West called President Barack Obama a war criminal during a demonstration in Washington D.C. on Saturday supporting Palestinians, Talking Points Memo reported.

"There's an intimate connection between mendacity and criminality, between lies and crimes against humanity," West said. "And what I want to say to my Black brother in the White House: Barack Obama is a war criminal, not because he's Black, or half-African and white, because his drones have killed 233 innocent children, and because he facilitates the killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and it would be true anywhere else."

West, who argued that the gathering was "anti-Jewish hatred" and "anti-occupation," levied a similar accusation towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal -- not because he's Jewish, but because he has chosen to promote occupation and annhilation," West said. "This is a human affair."

The protest was held two days before Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas agreed to a 72-hour truce arranged by Egypt.

"The killing of any innocent civilian is a war crime," West said. "But we're now [at] 1,600 and counting. That is Israeli state terrorism in action."

Watch West's remarks, as posted on Monday, below.