WASHINGTON, DC – President Biden says Pope Francis endorsed the US “game plan” in the conflict between Israel and Hamas during a phone call on Sunday.
“The Pope and I are on the same page,” Biden said Monday afternoon at an unrelated event focused on the economy near the White House.
“He was very, very interested in what we were doing to address some of the crises that we face, particularly in Israel this time,” the nation’s second Catholic president told reporters.
“And I explained to him what the game plan was, how we thought we should give Israel the kind of assistance it needed. And the Pope supported what we are doing in all areas.”
Pope Francis has advocated for peace rather than the continuation of war as the Israeli government fights to end Hamas control of Gaza.
The pontiff also called for more humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians and for Hamas to release more than 200 hostages.
According to President Biden, he and Pope Francis are “on the same page.” AFP via Getty Images
Last week, Biden took credit for convincing Egypt and Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza through a long-closed Egyptian border crossing.
The 80-year-old president has also openly supported Israel’s right to fight the terrorist group and visited Tel Aviv last week in a show of support for Israel after Hamas killed more than 1,400 people, including 32 American citizens, in a surprise attack against communities. in southern Israel on October 7.
Biden on Friday requested that Congress approve $14.3 billion to arm Israel’s military with both defensive and offensive weapons.
Biden has openly supported Israel’s right to fight Hamas and visited Tel Aviv last week in a show of support for Israel. Getty Images Biden said the pope was “very interested” in how the United States plans to address the crisis. Via REUTERS
The New York Times and Fox News reported that behind the scenes, the United States has urged Israel to halt its planned ground invasion to allow for the negotiated release of more hostages.
On Friday night, Biden appeared to publicly advocate for Israel to halt its invasion plans, saying “yes” when asked about the possibility, before a spokesman insisted that his boss “did not hear the full question” and did not I intended to pass it on. that position.
Israeli soldiers are deployed near the border with Gaza on October 17, 2023. AFP via Getty Images An Israeli soldier displays military equipment and ammunition that Hamas and Palestinian militants used at the time of the attack on Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip. Gaza.Getty Images
Pope Francis said last week: “I call on all believers to take only one side in this conflict: that of peace, not with words but with prayer.
“Casualties are increasing and the situation in Gaza is desperate,” the Pope said. “Please do everything, everything to avoid a humanitarian disaster, and it is possible that this war will grow. War does not solve any problem. “It only sows death and destruction.”
White House spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the United States believes up to 10 Americans may still be held hostage in Gaza. Two were released on Friday. Hamas released two more hostages, both Israeli citizens, on Monday.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn