WASHINGTON, DC — President Biden said Pope Francis supports America’s “game plan” in the Israel-Hamas conflict during a phone call Sunday.
“The Pope and I are on the same page,” Biden said Monday afternoon at a non-economic event centered near the White House.
“He is very, very interested in what we are doing to deal with some of the crises we are facing, especially in Israel this time,” the country’s second Catholic president told reporters.
“And I presented to him what the game plan was, how we thought we should give the kind of help to Israel that they needed. And the pope as a whole supports what we’re doing.”
Pope Francis has advocated peace instead of continued war as the Israeli government struggles to end Hamas’ control of Gaza.
The Pope has also called for more humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians and for Hamas to release more than 200 hostages.
According to President Biden, he and Pope Francis “are on the same page.” AFP via Getty Images
Biden has claimed credit for convincing Egypt and Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza through Egypt’s long-closed border crossing.
The 80-year-old president has vocally supported Israel’s right to fight terror groups and visited Tel Aviv last week in a show of support for Israel after Hamas killed more than 1,400 people, including 32 US citizens, in a surprise attack on a community in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Biden last week also asked Congress to OK $14.3 billion to arm the Israeli military with both defensive and offensive weapons.
Biden has vocally supported Israel’s right to fight Hamas, and visited Tel Aviv last week as a show of support for Israel. Getty Images Biden said the Pope is “very interested” in how America plans to deal with the crisis. via REUTERS
But the New York Times and Fox News are reporting that behind the scenes, the US has urged Israel to halt a planned ground invasion to allow negotiations for the release of more hostages.
On Friday night, Biden appeared to publicly advocate that Israel halt its invasion plans, saying “yes” when asked about the possibility – before a spokesman insisted that his boss “didn’t hear the full question” and did not intend to convey the position.
Israeli troops are stationed near the border with Gaza on October 17, 2023.AFP via Getty Images An Israeli soldier displays military equipment and ammunition used by Hamas and Palestinian militants during attacks on Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip.Getty Images
Pope Francis said last week, “I call on all believers to take only one side in this conflict — that of reconciliation, not with words but with prayer.
“The victims are increasing, and the situation in Gaza is very desperate,” the pope said. “Hopefully everything, everything, is done to avoid a humanitarian disaster, and it is possible that this war may develop. War does not solve any problems. It only sows death and destruction.”
White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the US believes up to 10 Americans may still be held hostage in Gaza. Two were released on Friday. Hamas on Monday released two more hostages, both Israelis.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
