Israel-Gaza conflict: Biden warns against Gaza occupation, contemplates Israel visit
Israel-Gaza conflict: In the midst of escalating tensions in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden is contemplating a visit to Israel while expressing reservations about a prolonged Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. This delicate balance underscores the White House's efforts to support Israel while also acknowledging concerns from Palestinians in Gaza and Arab leaders across the region. As of now, no official decision regarding the potential trip has been made, and the White House has not announced any travel plans.
President Biden emphasised his belief that Israel would adhere to the rules of war, ensuring that innocent civilians in the conflict zone would have access to essential provisions such as medicine, food, and water. During an interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes," he voiced his opinion that Israel should not maintain long-term control over the Gaza territory. Instead, he advocated for governance by a "Palestinian authority," characterising extended occupation as a "big mistake."
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"I think it'd be a big mistake," Biden said. "Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don't represent all the Palestinian people."
This interview, broadcast on Sunday night, took place as the Israeli Defense Forces were preparing for a potential ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in hundreds of thousands of residents fleeing to the south. This mass displacement raised concerns about a looming humanitarian crisis, with Palestinian officials reporting over 2,600 casualties in Gaza.
Accepting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's invitation to visit Israel, extended during a phone call on Saturday, could symbolize solidarity following a deadly Hamas attack and help kickstart regional efforts to mitigate the conflict's impact while providing much-needed humanitarian aid.
The relationship between Biden and the Israeli leader has faced strains this year, particularly due to Netanyahu's efforts to curtail the power of Israel's judicial branch. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to return to Israel following meetings with Saudi and Egyptian leaders, and reports suggest that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has also invited Biden to an international conference aimed at addressing the conflict. Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders have sought Egyptian mediation, with the US advocating for the opening of the Rafah border crossing.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan revealed that the US has engaged in backchannel discussions with Iranian leaders to discourage any further escalation.
During his interview, President Biden disclosed that his administration had explored the establishment of a safe zone for Gaza residents and held discussions with the Egyptian government about assisting in the evacuation of women and children from the conflict zone. He also conveyed his confidence in Israel's commitment to minimizing harm to innocent civilians.
Biden stressed that Israel's response was necessitated by the initial attack from Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,300 people, including 30 Americans, and left thousands more wounded. He likened the recent attack to the Holocaust in terms of its global significance.
While reiterating his stance that there was no need for direct US military intervention in the situation, President Biden urged lawmakers to provide additional military assistance to Israel and Ukraine. He expressed concern over the dysfunction in the US Congress, where House Republicans had been unable to elect a new speaker for over a week, highlighting how such political gridlock increased global instability.
- With inputs from agencies
