President Joe Biden emphasized his stance on the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip, in a recent interview with CBS.
While advocating for the elimination of the Hamas terror group, the President firmly rejected the idea of reoccupying the Gaza Strip, deeming it a “big mistake.”
This declaration comes as Israeli forces gear up for a potential ground invasion of the territory.
President Biden expressed confidence in the Israeli military’s ability to carry out its operations with an emphasis on minimizing civilian casualties and taking measures to prevent a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The catalyst for this Israeli offensive was Hamas’s brutal incursion across southern Israel on October 7, leading to the death of more than 1,300 individuals, including over 1,000 civilians, with at least 155 people taken hostage in Gaza Strip.
The victims included men, women, and children, including infants, and there were horrifying reports of mutilation, rape, and the torture of children.
In response to this appalling assault and Israel’s counteraction, President Biden expressed his belief in the necessity of addressing the extremist elements within Hamas.
He asserted that invading and “taking out the extremists” is a critical requirement.
When questioned about the complete elimination of Hamas, he affirmed his support for such an objective.
However, when asked about the prospect of Israel reoccupying Gaza Strip, President Biden cautioned against it, emphasizing that he believes it would be a significant error.
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He pointed out that the actions of Hamas and its extreme elements should not be seen as representative of all Palestinian people.
Occupying Gaza again, he argued, would be detrimental to Israel’s interests.
It is worth noting that Israel initially gained control of the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Six Day War.
Subsequently, unilaterally withdrew in 2005, allowing the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to assume control of the area.
However, due to ongoing security concerns, Israel imposed an air, land, and sea blockade on the densely populated 140-square-mile strip, which also shares borders with Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
