Israel occupation of Gaza would be ‘big mistake’ says Biden, as Rafah crossing expected to open
- 6 months ago
#englishnews #israelhamaswar
News Article :-
Any move by Israel to occupy Gaza would be a “big mistake,” US president Joe Biden has said, amid hopes that the enclave’s border with Egypt would open to allow aid in, as Israeli troops continued to prepare for a ground invasion.
In an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, Biden said he believes the Hamas militant group must be eliminated but there should be a path to a Palestinian state.
Israel unleashed a bombing campaign on Gaza after Hamas killed more than 1,300 Israelis – mostly civilians – and took 155 hostages in an unprecedented attack. Israel’s reprisal attacks in the days since have flattened neighbourhoods and killed at least 2,670 people in Gaza, the majority ordinary Palestinians.
Asked if he would support any occupation of Gaza, Biden replied: “I think it’d be a big mistake.” Hamas “don’t represent all the Palestinian people,” he continued.
The US has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side of the border to be brought in. On Sunday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the crossing would reopen.
“Egypt has put in place a lot of material support for people in Gaza, and Rafah will be reopened,” Blinken told reporters in Cairo after what he said was a “very good conversation” with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The US told its citizens in Gaza on Saturday they should move closer to the crossing in case it opened.
Blinken did not give a specific time for the crossing to reopen but NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the crossing would open at 9am on Monday. Citing a security source, ABC News reported the crossing would open for a few hours on Monday, without providing details. The Guardian was not immediately able to confirm either report.
Israel has faced grave warnings about the implications of putting boots on the ground in Gaza, with aid groups warning of a humanitarian disaster, fears of the conflict escalating, and the challenges of separating militants from civilians in the impoverished, densely occupied territory.
Reserves of fuel at all hospitals across Gaza are expected to last only about 24 more hours, the United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) said early on Monday.
“The shutdown of backup generators would place the lives of thousands of patients at risk,” OCHA said.
Medics in Gaza have warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of the expected Israeli ground offensive.
Gaza’s sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40km long territory after the Hamas attack.
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, told the Ass
News Article :-
Any move by Israel to occupy Gaza would be a “big mistake,” US president Joe Biden has said, amid hopes that the enclave’s border with Egypt would open to allow aid in, as Israeli troops continued to prepare for a ground invasion.
In an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, Biden said he believes the Hamas militant group must be eliminated but there should be a path to a Palestinian state.
Israel unleashed a bombing campaign on Gaza after Hamas killed more than 1,300 Israelis – mostly civilians – and took 155 hostages in an unprecedented attack. Israel’s reprisal attacks in the days since have flattened neighbourhoods and killed at least 2,670 people in Gaza, the majority ordinary Palestinians.
Asked if he would support any occupation of Gaza, Biden replied: “I think it’d be a big mistake.” Hamas “don’t represent all the Palestinian people,” he continued.
The US has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side of the border to be brought in. On Sunday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the crossing would reopen.
“Egypt has put in place a lot of material support for people in Gaza, and Rafah will be reopened,” Blinken told reporters in Cairo after what he said was a “very good conversation” with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The US told its citizens in Gaza on Saturday they should move closer to the crossing in case it opened.
Blinken did not give a specific time for the crossing to reopen but NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the crossing would open at 9am on Monday. Citing a security source, ABC News reported the crossing would open for a few hours on Monday, without providing details. The Guardian was not immediately able to confirm either report.
Israel has faced grave warnings about the implications of putting boots on the ground in Gaza, with aid groups warning of a humanitarian disaster, fears of the conflict escalating, and the challenges of separating militants from civilians in the impoverished, densely occupied territory.
Reserves of fuel at all hospitals across Gaza are expected to last only about 24 more hours, the United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) said early on Monday.
“The shutdown of backup generators would place the lives of thousands of patients at risk,” OCHA said.
Medics in Gaza have warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of the expected Israeli ground offensive.
Gaza’s sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40km long territory after the Hamas attack.
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, told the Ass