Joe Biden's Opposition to Ceasefire in Gaza; This Ceasefire Will Not Lead to Peace

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, rejected increasing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza in an article published on Saturday in the Washington Post, stating that such a ceasefire would not lead to peace. Biden emphasized that 'as long as Hamas adheres to its ideology of slaughter, a ceasefire is meaningless,' adding, 'For Hamas, a ceasefire is an opportunity to rebuild rocket stockpiles, reposition fighters, and resume killing and attacking innocents. Therefore, our goal should not merely be to stop the war for today, but to end it forever, to stop the cycle of violence, and to create not only Gaza but a Middle East where history does not keep repeating itself.' The U.S. President condemned the simultaneous rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the world since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, urging Israel to respect humanitarian laws and minimize civilian casualties. He considered the two-state solution as the only resolution to the conflict in the region, noting that 'Gaza and the West Bank must unite under a single governing structure, ultimately under a revived Palestinian Authority, to realize the two-state solution.' Biden also criticized the extreme violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, stating, 'I have emphasized to Israeli leaders that extreme violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop, and those who commit such violence must be held accountable.' On Wednesday, November 15, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden stated that he believes the war between Israel and Hamas will only stop when this militant group can no longer kill Israelis. The Palestinian militant group Hamas killed at least 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, in a terrorist attack on October 7 and kidnapped around 240 Israelis and foreign nationals, including children, women, and the elderly. Following this attack, Israel officially declared war on Hamas, with Israeli officials stating that they would not cease their operations until Hamas is completely defeated and destroyed. Many countries have called for a ceasefire, even temporarily, during this battle, but Israeli leaders have rejected any ceasefire, stating that stopping the battle would be like giving Hamas a chance to recover. The World Health Organization has once again called for an immediate ceasefire to address the wounded in Gaza. Jordan expressed doubts about Israel's ability to destroy Hamas. Turkey reiterated its positions on the Israel-Hamas war during a visit to Germany. Israel has authorized the entry of 'two trucks' of fuel into Gaza daily. A former U.S. Defense Secretary advised Israel that the condition for eradicating Hamas is 'serious engagement' with the Islamic Republic. The U.S. emphasized the importance of preserving civilian lives, expecting Israel to act in accordance with international law. Netanyahu stated that hostages were at Shifa Hospital until the start of Israel's ground operations.