Biden Addresses Situation in Gaza in Latest Speech

Early Friday, US president addressed several issues related to the ongoing military escalations in Gaza.

Biden initiated: “I spoke with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and reiterated that the United States remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and to self-determination.  The actions of Hamas terrorists don’t take that right away.”

He also expressed: “We mourn every innocent life lost.  We can’t ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity.”

Regarding his views about the situation in Gaza, he asserted: “Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.  Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, and innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of them.”

“Look, at the same time [Prime Minister] Netanyahu and I discussed again yesterday the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war.  That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can.  The people of Gaza urgently need food, water, and medicine.”

About the issues of providing Gaza with humanitarian aid, Biden highlighted that he secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza with the leaders of Egypt and Israel. 

He underscored: “And as I said in Israel: As hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace. We cannot give up on a two-state solution.”

“Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace.”

“We can’t stand by and stand silent when this happens. We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism.  We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia," US President concluded.