Calls It A’Big Mistake’: President Biden Cautions Against Long-Term Israeli Occupation In Gaza

US President Joe Biden has contemplated a potential trip to Israel while expressing concerns over a long-term Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. This move by the White House aims to balance its support for Israel with fears that the regional crisis could further escalate. As of now, there is no official decision regarding the trip to Israel, according to sources familiar with internal discussions. The National Security Council spokesperson has also stated that the White House doesn’t have a trip to announce at this time.

The mere consideration of such a trip, coupled with acknowledging the concerns of Palestinians in Gaza and leaders across the Arab region, underscores the United States’ efforts to prevent the crisis from intensifying.

In a recent interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes,” President Biden emphasized his belief that Israel would adhere to the rules of war and ensure access to medicine, food, and water for innocent civilians. He also expressed his view that Israel should not control the territory in the long term, advocating instead for governance by “a Palestinian authority.”

Biden’s statement on the matter was clear: “I think it’d be a big mistake. Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.”

This interview occurred against the backdrop of the Israeli Defense Forces preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, causing a mass migration of residents to the south. This situation has raised concerns about a humanitarian crisis, with Palestinian officials reporting over 2,600 casualties in Gaza.

In light of the strained relationship between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the possibility of Biden accepting Netanyahu’s invitation to visit could serve to show solidarity after a deadly Hamas attack and stimulate regional efforts to de-escalate the conflict and provide humanitarian aid.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to return to Israel following meetings with Saudi and Egyptian leaders. Additionally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has extended an invitation to Biden for an international conference related to the conflict. Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders have been urging Egypt to mediate the situation, and the US has been advocating for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed that the US engaged in backchannel discussions with Iranian leaders to discourage further escalation.

In the interview, President Biden mentioned discussions within his team about establishing a safe zone for Gaza residents and dialogues with the Egyptian government regarding assistance in evacuating women and children from the conflict zone. He emphasized that Israel would do its utmost to prevent harm to innocent civilians.

Biden reiterated that while Israel needed to respond to the initial Hamas attack, he did not see a direct need for US troops to intervene in the situation. However, he urged lawmakers to provide additional military assistance to both Israel and Ukraine. Biden also expressed concern about the dysfunction in Capitol Hill, particularly the delay in electing a new House speaker, which he believed increased global instability.