Biden Urges Israel to Avoid Gaza Occupation Amid Rising Tensions
President Joe Biden has cautioned Israel against a potential occupation of Gaza, marking one of his most significant public appeals for moderation as Israel counters the recent terror attacks initiated by Hamas.
During a "60 Minutes" interview on CBS, Biden labeled such an occupation by Israel as a "big mistake." This comes amidst growing indicators that Israel might be gearing up for a ground invasion of Gaza, which is concurrently grappling with a mounting humanitarian crisis. The U.S. president has emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilians and has been actively involved in efforts to address the escalating shortages of essentials like food, water, and gas in the region.
Biden expressed his viewpoint on the situation in Gaza, stating that while the extremist factions of Hamas don't represent the entirety of the Palestinian populace, there remains a need for a Palestinian Authority and a roadmap leading to a Palestinian state.
In response to the Hamas attacks, which resulted in 1,400 fatalities, Israel initiated a comprehensive bombing campaign targeting the northern Gaza Strip, the origin of the Hamas offensive. Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., clarified on CNN that Israel has no intentions of occupying or reoccupying Gaza post-conflict.
While Biden acknowledged Israel's right to defend itself against the "barbarism" of Hamas, he emphasized the nation's responsibility to minimize civilian casualties. He described Hamas as "cowards" for using civilians as shields.
The deteriorating situation in Gaza is rapidly evolving into a humanitarian catastrophe. Despite Israel's advisories for civilians in northern Gaza to relocate southward in anticipation of a potential invasion, many human rights groups argue that such a move is unfeasible due to the destruction of infrastructure and the acute housing shortage in one of the world's most densely populated regions.
Biden also highlighted the necessity for a humanitarian corridor to assist civilians caught in the crossfire and expressed confidence in Israel's commitment to the "rules of war."
The U.S. president ruled out the involvement of American troops in combat operations in the region, assuring that the U.S. would furnish Israel with "everything they need." He also clarified that, as of now, there's no concrete evidence linking Iran directly to the attacks on Israel, although he acknowledged Iran's consistent support for Hamas and Hezbollah.