Washington: US President Joe Biden debated visiting Israel while issuing a warning against a prolonged Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. The White House was attempting to strike a balance between its backing for Israel and its concern that the regional crisis could worsen. Two sources involved with the internal conversations said there was no decision on whether to visit Israel yet, and a National Security Council official claimed the White House had no trip to announce.
The potential travel, together with the US’s acceptance of the worries raised by Arab leaders in the area and Palestinians in Gaza, was the latest indication that the US was attempting to prevent the issue from worsening.
In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Biden emphasized his opinion that Israel would adhere to the laws of war and that innocent civilians would have access to food, water, and medical care. He added that he didn’t think Israel should have long-term control over the region, stating that it should be run by “a Palestinian authority.”
Biden replied, “I think it’d be a terrible mistake. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.”
The interview, which aired Sunday night, was broadcast as the Israeli Defense Forces prepared to invade Gaza on foot, sending tens of thousands of residents fleeing toward the south. Concerns of a humanitarian disaster have been raised as a result of the huge influx, and Palestinian officials said that more than 2,600 people have died in Gaza.
strained connection
Accepting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s invitation, which he issued over the phone on Saturday, could both show support for the region’s attempts to contain the war and provide humanitarian aid in the wake of the fatal Hamas attack.
The most recent encounter between Biden and the Israeli prime minister took place in September in New York City. Their bond has deteriorated this year as a result of Netanyahu’s efforts to weaken Israel’s judicial branch.
Following discussions with Saudi and Egyptian officials, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to return to Israel on Monday, and according to Axios, Biden has also been invited to an international summit on the crisis by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Egyptian leaders have been urged to assist in mediating the situation by Palestinian and Israeli leaders, and the US has urged Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser for the White House, added on Sunday that the US had spoken with Iranian leaders in private to caution them against escalation.
Safe Area
In his interview, Biden stated that his team had discussed creating a safe area for Gaza people and had spoken with the Egyptian government about helping to evacuate women and children.
“The Israelis are going to do everything in their power to avoid the killing of innocent civilians,” Biden stated.
After the initial Hamas onslaught, which claimed at least 1,300 lives, including 30 Americans, and left thousands more injured, Biden emphasized his conviction that Israel had to act. According to the US president, the incident last week was “as consequential as the Holocaust.”
Although he urged Congress to provide Israel and Ukraine more military support, Biden reaffirmed in the interview that he didn’t see a need for US forces to intervene directly in the conflict. According to Biden, the risk in the globe has worsened as a result of the dysfunction on Capitol Hill, where House Republicans have been unable to elect a new speaker to replace Kevin McCarthy for more than a week.
