In his highly anticipated press conference following the NATO Summit in Washington on Thursday, President Joe Biden appeared to indicate that ending the Gaza conflict would not require Israel to halt efforts against Hamas leaders.
The 81-year-old president, facing intense scrutiny over his chances of reelection after a weak debate performance last month, urged Israel to conclude the Gaza fighting and revealed his plan for post-war management of the Palestinian enclave, which aims to pave the way for a two-state solution.
“It’s time to end this war,” Biden said, directing his remarks at Israel. “It doesn’t mean walk away from going after [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar and Hamas.”
US officials had privately told the Times of Israel in May that the administration would support Israel’s continued efforts against Hamas leadership post-war. However, Biden’s statement marked the clearest public endorsement of this stance by Washington.
Addressing the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which is in its tenth month, Biden mentioned that both parties had agreed on a “framework” for a ceasefire and hostage release deal he proposed in May, although an agreement had not yet been reached. He maintained, however, that progress was being made to bridge the gaps.
Biden did not specify when Israel and Hamas agreed to the ceasefire framework, and the significance of this development was unclear since an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that the sides are still weeks away from an agreement with major gaps to bridge.
Israeli negotiating teams have been traveling between Israel, Doha, and Cairo to meet with US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators. Although negotiating countries have expressed cautious optimism, Hamas stated on Thursday that mediators had not yet provided any updates.
For months, the US “has worked to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to bring the hostages home, to create a path for peace and stability in the Middle East,” Biden told the press, emphasizing his desire to end the war, which began with Hamas’s October 7 attack in southern Israel.
“These are difficult, complex issues,” Biden said regarding the gaps between Israel and Hamas. “There are still gaps to close, but we’re making progress. The trend is positive, and I’m determined to get this deal done and bring an end to this war, which should end now.”
Biden acknowledged his occasional frustration with the Israeli government over its handling of the Gaza conflict. He recalled his visit to Israel following the “massacres that occurred at the hands of Hamas” on October 7, where he convinced Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to allow aid into Gaza after imposing a siege.
“We pushed [getting aid in] really hard. Israel occasionally was less than cooperative,” Biden said.
“I know Israel well, and I support Israel, but his war cabinet is one of the most conservative war cabinets in the history of Israel,” he continued, seemingly confusing the broader cabinet with the now-defunct small panel that included moderate ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who left the emergency government last month.
“There’s a lot of things that in retrospect, I wish I had been able to convince Israelis to do,” he said.
Reiterating his message to Israel’s leaders shortly after October 7, Biden said he warned them not to “make the same mistake America made after bin Laden.”
“There’s no need to occupy anywhere. Go after the people who did the job… Don’t think that’s what you should be doing, doubling down. We’ll help you find the bad guys — Sinwar and company,” he said.
Addressing another recent disagreement with Israel, particularly with Netanyahu, Biden defended his decision to withhold a shipment of 2,000-lb bombs.
“I know all this criticism about how I wouldn’t provide the weapons they needed. I’m not providing the 2000-lb bombs. They cannot be used in Gaza or any populated area without causing great human tragedy and damage,” he said, indicating he has no plans to lift the hold on the shipment.
However, he asserted that the US continues to aid Israel’s security in other ways, citing the thwarted Iranian missile and drone attack in April with European and Arab allies.
“I was able to unite the Arab nations as well as Europe and nothing happened. It sent an incredible lesson to what was going on for the Middle East,” he said.
On his vision for Middle East unity, Biden stated that his plan for post-war Gaza management would lead to a two-state solution, with Arab nations helping secure the Strip during a transitional period, preventing an Israeli occupation post-war.
“There’s no ultimate answer other than a two-state solution,” he said.
“What was able to be done in terms of the plan I put together was that there would be a process for a two-state solution, and we get the Arab nations — from Egypt all the way to Saudi Arabia — to be in a position where they would cooperate in the transition so that they can keep the peace in Gaza without Israeli forces staying in Gaza,” Biden explained.
“The question that has been from the beginning [is], what’s the day after in Gaza? And the day after in Gaza has to be… no occupation by Israel of the Gaza Strip, as well as the ability for us to access, get in and out as rapidly as you can all that’s needed there,” he said, seemingly referring to a freer flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
{Matzav.com}