Staff Reports
President Biden has voiced his support for Israel’s efforts to eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas in a recent interview. When asked if he believes Israel needs to completely eliminate Hamas, the President responded with a confident “Yes, I do.” He emphasized that Israel understands that not all Palestinians agree with Hamas and Hezbollah, but there is still a need for a two-state solution to create a Palestinian state.
However, President Biden acknowledged that such a compromise would be challenging in the wake of recent terror attacks. Israel has responded to these attacks with the largest bombardment of Gaza ever recorded. The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported a devastating death toll of at least 2,670 people, including 724 children, and over 9,600 others wounded.
In the interview, President Biden drew a distinction between the initial attack on Israel and its subsequent response in Gaza. He stated, “Israel is going after a group of people who have engaged in barbarism that is as consequential as the Holocaust. And so I think Israel has to respond. They have to go after Hamas. Hamas is a bunch of cowards hiding behind civilians.”
Biden urges Israel to ‘eliminate’ Hamas, but confident it will try to avoid killing innocentshttps://t.co/gL4io5BOEE pic.twitter.com/v7PgkUhUkh
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 16, 2023
Despite the magnitude of the situation, President Biden expressed confidence in Israel’s commitment to minimizing innocent deaths. He stated, “I’m confident Israel is going to act under the rules of war,” highlighting the need for access to medicine, food, and water for innocents in Gaza. He also cautioned against Israel occupying Gaza permanently, noting that extreme elements of Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people.
Administration officials have engaged in discussions with Israel and Egypt to create a humanitarian corridor for innocents to evacuate the area and bring in supplies. While the President reassured that the United States will support Israel, he reiterated that U.S. troops will not be involved in the conflict on the ground.
President Biden’s statements reflect a strong stance on Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks while emphasizing the need to protect innocent lives and find a long-term solution for peace in the region.
