In a significant public statement, President Joe Biden has issued a warning to Israel against occupying Gaza as the nation braces for a potential ground invasion in response to this month’s terror attacks by Hamas. The President made these remarks during an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired on Sunday. He emphasized the importance of restraint and cautioned that occupying Gaza would be a “big mistake.”
Israel has been signaling its readiness for a ground invasion of Gaza, while a growing humanitarian crisis unfolds within the besieged Palestinian territory. President Biden has consistently called for the protection of civilians, and the United States is actively engaged in efforts to alleviate shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, and gas.
Biden expressed his viewpoint on the situation, stating, “What happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.” He emphasized that while Hamas should be eliminated, a Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state should be established.
This represents one of the few instances where the U.S. President has publicly urged Israel to exercise restraint in its response to the Hamas attacks, which have tragically claimed the lives of many. In response, Israel initiated a massive bombing campaign against the northern Gaza Strip, the area from which Hamas launched its attacks.
Notably, in his “60 Minutes” interview, President Biden did not explicitly call for an immediate ceasefire. He differentiated the situation, saying, “Israel is going after a group of people who have engaged in barbarism that is as consequential as the Holocaust.” He underscored Israel’s need to respond to the threats posed by Hamas, emphasizing that Hamas was using civilians as human shields, whereas Israel would strive to avoid harming innocent civilians.
The crisis in Gaza has rapidly evolved into a severe humanitarian disaster, with Israeli authorities instructing civilians in the northern region to evacuate to the south in anticipation of an impending invasion. However, numerous human rights organizations have decried this as near impossible, citing extensive infrastructure damage and a severe lack of housing in one of the world’s most densely populated areas.
President Biden stressed the necessity of establishing a humanitarian corridor to aid civilians caught in the crossfire and expressed confidence that Israel would adhere to the “rules of war.” He remarked, “There’s standards that democratic institutions and countries go by. And so I’m confident that there’s gonna be an ability for the innocents in Gaza to be able to have access to medicine and food and water.”
In response to questions about American military involvement in the region, President Biden made it clear that he does not anticipate U.S. troops engaging in combat in the area. Instead, he assured that the United States would provide Israel with “everything they need.”
Furthermore, the President stated that there is currently “no clear evidence” indicating that Iran was directly responsible for the attacks on Israel. He noted that while Iran supports Hamas and Hezbollah, there is no concrete proof of their involvement in planning or carrying out the attacks.
