WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged to deliver humanitarian aid and reconstruction aid to Gaza, while welcoming the deal reached to end 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas, during whom he was criticized by his fellow Democrats for not speaking out more strongly against Israeli actions.
Joe Biden, who made a cameo appearance in the White House after the ceasefire was announced, also vowed to resupply Israel’s missile defense system.
“We remain committed to working with the United Nations and other international actors to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and mobilize international support for the people of Gaza,” said Joe Biden.
The American president indicated that aid for the reconstruction of Gaza would be provided in partnership with the Palestinian Authority and not with Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist organization.
But the Palestinian Authority, led by moderate President Mahmoud Abbas, rules only part of the occupied West Bank, while Hamas rules the Gaza Strip.
Joe Biden also used his remarks to defend his approach to dealing with the crisis after many Democratic lawmakers urged him to change his stance defending Israel’s right to self-defense and expressed their displeasure at it. which they see as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s disproportionate response to Hamas rocket attacks.
The US president said he had six phone conversations with Benjamin Netanyahu and also spoke to Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi. Its main collaborators have established dozens of contacts with other officials in the Gulf.
“I believe that Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in security and enjoy the same measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy,” said Joe Biden.
“My government will continue its quiet and relentless diplomacy to this end. I think we have a real opportunity to make progress and I pledge to work in this direction,” he added.
(Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland; French version Camille Raynaud)
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