In a column in the Washington Post on Saturday, Biden presented his view of the war and its consequences.
– There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no occupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in territory, writes Biden.
Read the latest news about the conflict between Hamas and Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel must have the “supreme military responsibility” in Gaza for the “foreseeable future”.
– As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revived Palestinian Authority (PA), while we all work towards a two-state solution, according to Biden.
Watch video: Israel’s ambassador to ABC News journalist: – You don’t know the facts!
Announces measures against settler extremists
Biden further warns that the US is prepared to issue a visa ban for what he describes as extremists who attack civilians in the occupied West Bank. Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has increased further since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October.
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– I have been emphatic to Israel’s leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must end, and that those who commit the violence must be held accountable, says Biden.
The situation in the West Bank has been very tense for the past year and a half, and 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians here in almost 20 years.
Many killed
But just since October 7, over 190 Palestinians, among them over 50 children, have been killed by Israeli forces, according to the UN. Eight Palestinians have also been killed in attacks by settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The number of Palestinians who have been killed since 7 October makes up a whopping 43 percent of the total number of people killed so far 2023-432.
In the same period, four Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians. The UN has registered over 251 settler attacks against Palestinians, and over 143 households have been internally displaced in the West Bank since 7 October.
2023-11-18 20:35:34
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