2023-10-25 23:22:00
Joe Biden / Photo: AFP
US President Joe Biden said this Wednesday that did not require Israel to postpone its announced military incursion land in the Gaza Strip until the hostages held by Hamas are released.
“It’s his decision, but I didn’t demand it,” Biden said, commenting on his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“What I indicated to him is that if it is possible to get these people out safely, that’s what you should do“he added in a speech and press conference on the grounds of the White House.
Regarding the safety of the hostages, the president assured that “obviously they are in danger“.
“The question is whether there is any way to get them out or not. If we can get them out, we should get them out,” he commented, while reaffirming Israel’s right to “defend itself.”
According to the Israeli Army, There are 222 hostages who were kidnapped in the Hamas attack to Israel, on October 7, and who are in the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip.
Biden also stated that he has “no confidence” in the civilian casualty figures released by the Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, according to the AFP news agency.
“I have no idea that the Palestinians are telling the truth about the death toll,” Biden was quoted as saying by US news network CNN.
The head of state estimated that Israel must be “incredibly careful to ensure that it is focusing on going after the people who are spreading this war” against the Hebrew country, rather than civilians.
Biden asked Netanyahu to be “extremely careful” that the attacks do not affect civilians / Photo: AFP
However, he said he was “sure that innocent people have died” and that “that is the price of waging war.”
Regarding the status quo in the region, Biden considered that You can’t go back to that moment before the attack.e”.
“That means ensuring that Hamas can no longer terrorize Israel or use Palestinian civilians as human shields. It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next,” he said.
Two State Solution
In that sense, called for the resumption of negotiations to achieve a two-state solutionone for the Israeli people and another for the Palestinians.
That path “means a concentrated effort from all partiesIsraelis, Palestinians, regional partners, world leaders, to put us on the path to peace,” Biden said.
Regarding the use of civilians “as a human shield” he said that “is not surprising” and that it is “cowardly.
“This also places an added burden on Israel. While they pursue Hamas, that does not diminish the need to operate according to the laws of war,” he said, adding that “Israel has to do everything within its power.” no matter how difficult it may be, to protect innocent civilians.
Biden also considered that humanitarian aid should flow more quickly to the Palestinian enclave and added that he was concerned about attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank by “extremist settlers”, referring to Israelis living in that territory.
“Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live side by side in security, dignity and peace,” he said.
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