President Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday night that Israel should not occupy Gaza following a devastating Hamas terrorist attack, saying the move would be a “big mistake.”
Biden was speaking to CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview filmed Thursday when he was asked about the expected military action in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces.
“I think it would be a big mistake,” Biden said when asked if he would support an Israeli occupation of Gaza.
“Look, what happened in Gaza, in my opinion, is that Hamas and the extremist elements of Hamas do not represent all the Palestinian people. And I think it would be a mistake for Israel to reoccupy Gaza.”
Asked if he believes Hamas should be eliminated entirely, Biden said: “Yes, I do. But there needs to be a Palestinian authority. “There needs to be a path to a Palestinian state.”
The Israeli government gave 1 million people living in the northern Gaza Strip 24 hours to evacuate ahead of an expected attack on the territory.
President Biden appears on “60 Minutes” to answer questions about the wars in Ukraine and Israel. CBS Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. REUTERS
The Israel Defense Forces have been bombarding Gaza with rockets since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Biden said in the interview that he supports a “humanitarian corridor” that would allow innocent civilians to escape the massacre safely.
“Our team is talking to them about that,” Biden said of a possible avenue to get citizens out of harm’s way. “There is a way out to get these women and children out of that area right now, but it’s difficult.”
People walk around the ruins of a building destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
The president also said he wants humanitarian supplies brought to Gaza and was “confident” in Israel’s ability to carry out a justified defense.
“There is a standard by which democratic institutions and countries are governed,” he said. “I am sure that the innocent people of Gaza will be able to have access to medicine, food and water.”
Biden has already sent two aircraft carriers, the USS Eisenhower and the USS Gerald R Ford, along with their strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean.
Palestinians search for belongings in the rubble of the Watan Tower, which was destroyed in the Israeli attacks.REUTERS
US officials are interested in deterring other actors such as the terrorist group Hezbollah and Iran (likely through their proxies) from becoming involved in the conflict.
According to local authorities, more than 1,300 Israelis and 2,400 Palestinians have died in the conflict.
This includes at least 29 Americans, according to the US State Department.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn