Biden Emphasizes Israel's Right to Self-Defense and the Need to Protect Palestinian Civilians

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, on Sunday, October 22, emphasized Israel's right to self-defense and the necessity of protecting the lives of Palestinian civilians. In a post on the social media platform 'X', Biden stated, 'Israel has the right to defend itself. We must ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend its people today and always.' He added, 'At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have discussed how Israel operates under the laws of war. This means protecting civilians during battle in the best way possible.' The U.S. President further asserted, 'We cannot ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace. That is why I secured an agreement for the delivery of the first humanitarian aid shipment for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.' In the conclusion of his post on 'X', Biden stated, 'And we cannot set aside the two-state solution.' On Wednesday, October 18, Biden announced during his return from a brief trip to Israel that after a half-hour conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, he agreed to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza and allow the entry of the first group of trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. During his brief trip to Israel last week, he pledged $100 million in aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The United States has emphasized that aid must reach the people of Gaza and not Palestinian militant groups. Biden and senior officials in his administration have repeatedly stressed Israel's legitimate right to self-defense and the necessity of protecting Palestinian civilian lives since the onset of the terrorist attack on October 7. A group of American senators emphasized the need for 'security and prosperity in the region' during a meeting with bin Salman. Warnings to the Islamic Republic and proxy forces; the U.S. is doubling its military presence in the region. The U.S. Secretary of State called for the Rafah crossing to remain open; UN officials consider the incoming aid 'insufficient.' The UN Secretary-General stated that Hamas's attack does not justify 'collective punishment' of Palestinians by Israel. A peace conference in Cairo was held to reduce tensions in the Israel-Hamas war and send aid to Gaza. Hamas fired rockets at 10 cities in central and southern Israel.