Biden Warns Israel Not to Occupy Gaza

While the president has stood strongly behind Israel since Hamas attacked, he said on “60 Minutes” that a new occupation of Gaza would “be a big mistake.”

President Biden has given a warning to Israel about not taking over Gaza again. This is his first public effort to tell America's friend to be careful after the Hamas attack that killed more than 1,300 people, including 29 Americans.

Biden has been very supportive of Israel since the attack on October 7, and he didn't criticize them for their actions in Gaza, even though the United Nations said there could be a humanitarian crisis there. But in a recent interview, he said that a full occupation of Gaza would be a mistake.

He mentioned on "60 Minutes" that what happened in Gaza doesn't mean all Palestinians support Hamas and the extreme groups within it. He believes that Israel should not occupy Gaza again but should take out the extremists.

Biden might visit Israel soon to show support after the Hamas attack, but he hasn't decided yet.

In the interview, Biden didn't directly say that Israel should send ground troops into Gaza temporarily, but he supported the goal of getting rid of Hamas, a group that has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. He said that Israel needs to go after Hamas because they hide among civilians, making it harder for Israel to target them without harming innocent people.

Israel left Gaza in 2005, and Hamas took control. Since then, there have been conflicts and wars between Israel and Hamas. Israeli leaders believe that they can't just use airstrikes this time, and they want to eliminate Hamas. They have mobilized forces and are preparing for a possible invasion.

Even before a ground offensive, Israeli airstrikes and supply cuts have created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to aid organizations. Many Palestinians have been killed or injured.

Biden hasn't criticized Israel but expressed concern for the humanitarian situation. He wants a safe way for Palestinians to escape the fighting and to get supplies. He believes that Israel will follow the rules of war and allow access to medicine, food, and water for innocent people in Gaza.

Biden thinks that Hamas needs to be eliminated, but there also needs to be a Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state.

In the interview, Biden was asked if he still wants to run for a second term despite the issues in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Congress. He said, "Yes," and mentioned diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

He believes there are significant opportunities to make the world a better place if these efforts succeed.