'Israelis can make own decisions': Biden on Gaza ground invasions
United States (US) President Joe Biden reportedly said on Tuesday that Israel had the autonomy to make its own choices and reiterated unwavering support from the US. This comes amid speculation that Israel might launch massive ground invasions of Gaza against the Hamas terror group. Meanwhile, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador R Ravindra, voiced concern over the worsening security situation and civilian casualties in Gaza at the UNSC.
Why does this story matter?
The conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its 19th day on Wednesday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saying it should begin a ground offensive soon, per The Times of Israel. However, Israel is reportedly facing challenges in launching ground invasions in Gaza, where it has intensified retaliatory airstrikes to eliminate Hamas. Notably, Israel strikes have killed 5,791 people in Gaza so far, while Hamas attacks have killed around 1,650 Israelis since the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas.
Biden urges caution ahead of ground invasions by Israel
While reiterating the US's unwavering support for Israel, Biden said on Tuesday that the US stands by its ally. However, he recommended caution in any potential move and said that Israel was autonomous to make its own decisions. Biden's remark came in response to a query during a photo op with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "Are you urging Israel to delay its ground invasion?" he was asked, to which he replied, "The Israelis can make their own decisions."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemns acts of terrorism
During a UNSC ministerial meeting on the Middle East situation on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced all acts of terrorism as "unlawful and unjustifiable." He emphasized that terrorist acts are "inexcusable", whether they target individuals in Nairobi (Kenya) or Bali (Indonesia), Istanbul (Turkey) or Mumbai (India), New York (US), or Kibbutz Be'eri (Israel). "They are unlawful and unjustifiable whether they're carried out by ISIS, by Boko Haram, by Al Shabaab, by Lashkar-e-Taiba, or by Hamas," Blinken said.
Israel's foreign minister vows to crush Hamas, Palestine reacts
At the UNSC meeting, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen reportedly reaffirmed his commitment to defeating Hamas terrorists and rejected calls for "proportionality" in response to Hamas's unexpected attacks on October 7. Cohen informed the UNSC that the appropriate reaction to the massacre is "a total destruction to the last one of the Hamas," labeling the extremist organization "the new Nazis." Simultaneously, the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki reportedly stated that stopping the bloodshed was a "collective human duty."
Nations push for ceasefire, humanitarian aid in Gaza
The US, Russia, and several other countries also advocated for a halt in hostilities or a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden said on Monday he would not back a ceasefire until Hamas released all hostages, per USA Today. However, on Tuesday, the US president and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed on wider diplomacy "to maintain stability across the region and prevent the conflict from expanding," per the White House.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza, rising death toll
The conflict has left 2.3 million individuals in Gaza without adequate food, water, and medical supplies since Israel imposed a blockade on the region following the Hamas assault on Israeli towns on October 7. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reports that at least 5,791 Palestinians have been killed and 16,297 injured. In the occupied West Bank, 96 Palestinians have died and 1,650 have been wounded due to violence and Israeli incursions since the war's start.
