President Biden’s re-election campaign began some hasty clean-up after remarks attributed to the commander-in-chief were widely interpreted as calls for Israel to halt operations against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“Hamas launches terrorist attacks because they fear nothing but Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace,” read a message from the @JoeBiden X account Tuesday afternoon.
“To continue down the path of violence, terror, murder, and war is to give Hamas what they seek,” Biden added. “We can’t do that.”
Some Republican lawmakers were angered by the statement, which came as a lull in fighting aimed at allowing the release of hostages held by Hamas entered its sixth day.
President Biden’s campaign sought to clarify recent comments he made that some Republicans saw as a call for an Israeli ceasefire against Hamas terrorists. AP “Hamas launches terrorist attacks because they fear nothing but Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace,” Biden said Tuesday afternoon at X. X/Joe Biden
“Hamas seeks to kill Jews and the only thing Hamas fears is overwhelming force,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) answered. “Pressuring Israel to let Hamas remain in power—which Biden did—is moral bankruptcy.”
“Because of pressure from Democrats I hope this is not the beginning of Joe Biden turning away from Israel,” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said. “Also, Mr. President, where are the American hostages?”
Since Friday, Hamas has freed 81 hostages, including 61 Israelis, 19 Thais and a four-year-old American girl, Abigail Edan. At least 159 remain in custody in Gaza, including up to nine Americans.
“To continue the path of terror, terrorism, murder, and war is to give Hamas what they are looking for. We cannot do that,” added the president. AFP via Getty Images
Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz responded that the account “simply reposted excerpts from President Biden’s speech on Friday” and “[n]ot at all” called for an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
“As he repeated at the same event, his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorists is as strong as ever,” Munoz said to X.
During Friday’s speech announcing the release of hostages from Gaza, Biden reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself while also insisting on a two-state solution as an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz responded that the account “simply reposted excerpts from President Biden’s speech on Friday” and “[n]ot at all” called for an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. via REUTERS
“I have encouraged the Prime Minister to — focus on reducing the number of casualties as he tries to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective that he has,” Biden told reporters from Nantucket, Mass.
“It’s a difficult task, and I don’t know how long it will take,” he added. “My hope and hope is that, as we move forward, the entire Arab world and the region also puts pressure on all parties to slow this down, to end it as quickly as possible.”
Earlier in the speech, the president had emphasized the need “to end this cycle of violence in the Middle East.”
Earlier, the president had emphasized the need “to end this cycle of violence in the Middle East.” Reuters
“We need to renew our determination to continue this two-state solution where the people of Israel and Palestine can one day live side by side in a two-state solution with the same measure of freedom and dignity,” he said.
“Two states for two people. And it’s more important now than ever.”
Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, called hopes of a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza “a big lie.”
“The vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza support the October 7 terrorist attack, and they do not want a two-state solution. They don’t want Israel to exist,” said Redfern.
“When the Palestinians say ‘from the river to the sea…’ we have to believe them.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
