Dhaka, Sept. 29 -- Former President Barack Obama on Friday criticized Israel's ongoing military action in Gaza, saying that "there's not a military rationale for continuing to pummel what is already rubble" and arguing for Palestinian statehood.

"I think that it is important for us to acknowledge those of us who are not direct parties to the violence to say, right now, children can't starve. Right now, there's not a military rationale for continuing to pummel what is already rubble," Obama said at an event in Dublin, Ireland, according to a transcript released by his office.

He continued, "It is unacceptable to ignore the human crisis that is happening inside of Gaza, and it is necessary for us to insist that both sides have to find a p...