Biden Asks Hamas To Not Use "Palestinian Civilians As Human Shields", Urges Israel To Pursue Two-State Solution

US President Joe Biden stated that Israel has both a right and a responsibility to respond to the harm done to its people during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday (25 October).

He also accused Hamas, which governs Gaza, of using Palestinian civilians as shields during Israeli strikes while urging Israel to adhere to the laws of war and take every possible measure to protect innocent civilians.

Biden additionally called for an end to Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, emphasising that these actions only exacerbate the situation, Wion reported.

He questioned the accuracy of civilian casualty figures released by the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry, acknowledging that there may be innocent casualties in war but expressing skepticism about the numbers provided.

Regarding the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, he clarified that he did not demand it but suggested to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that if it's possible to safely evacuate civilians, that should be considered.

Looking ahead, President Biden stressed the importance of having a vision for the region after the current crisis. He advocated for a two-state solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in safety, dignity, and peace.

US President Joe Biden stated that Israel should not return to the pre-war status quo after its conflict with Hamas. Instead, he emphasised the need for Israel to pursue a two-state solution with the Palestinians when the conflict ends.

Biden said, "There's no going back to the status quo as it stood on 6 October. That means ensuring that Hamas can no longer terrorise Israel and use Palestinian civilians as human shields. It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view, it has to be a two-state solution."

He further highlighted that achieving this goal would require a concerted effort from all parties involved, including Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, and global leaders, to set a course towards peace.