Joe Biden
Following the Israel-Hamas war, US President Joe Biden stated on Saturday that the Palestinian Authority should eventually control the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Biden stated, “As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution”.
He went on to say, “There must be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in the territory”.
He used the op-ed to attempt to answer the question of what the US intends for Gaza after the conflict is over.
Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has stated that Israel must maintain overall military responsibility in Gaza for the foreseeable future.
Biden also stated that the US is prepared to impose visa bans on extremists who attack civilians in the West Bank.
Since the attack on Israel, violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has intensified.
“I have been emphatic with Israel’s leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those committing the violence must be held accountable”, Biden added.
The West Bank, home to 3 million Palestinians and over half a million Jewish settlers has been raging for more than 18 months, causing significant international concern as violence has risen since October 7.
Also read: German Chancellor tells Netanyahu, “Urgent need to ease Gaza humanitarian crisis”
