Biden: "Gaza Crisis Response Is a 'Priority'"... US Also Discusses Establishing Safe Zones

Emphasizing Support for Israel While Urging Cautious Response
"Must Not Overlook the Fact That Palestinian Residents Also Suffer"

U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized that urgently addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where Israel's ground troop deployment is imminent, is a "priority."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

In a speech delivered on the 13th (local time) in Philadelphia, President Biden said, "We are ensuring that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and respond to this attack (Hamas's surprise attack on Israel)," adding, "Also, urgently addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a priority for me."

He continued, "We must not overlook the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinian residents are not involved in Hamas's brutal attacks and that they too are suffering as a result."

He introduced that the U.S. is directly communicating with Israel, as well as Arab governments including Egypt and Jordan, and the United Nations, to discuss ways to address humanitarian issues.

At the same time, President Biden reaffirmed his full support and commitment to Israel, stating again that "the United States stands with Israel" on the same day.

Since the terrorist surprise attack by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas on the 7th, Israel has demanded the release of hostages and initiated a full blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, increasing the hardships faced by local residents.

In particular, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on the 13th that "within days, a large-scale military operation will be conducted in Gaza City," urging all civilians in Gaza City to evacuate to southern Gaza.

Neighboring Middle Eastern countries and the international community have voiced demands not to forcibly displace Palestinian residents from Gaza, expressing concerns that a large-scale population movement in a short period could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

President Biden's remarks on this day are also interpreted as a call for Israel to respond cautiously to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza around the time of Israel's ground troop deployment.

It is understood that there is concern that if many Gaza civilians are sacrificed during Israel's ground troop deployment, anti-Israel and broader anti-American sentiment, especially in the Arab world, could gain momentum.

The U.S. is also discussing with Israel and Egypt the establishment of safe zones to protect civilians in Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Qatar on the same day, said at a briefing held in Doha, "We have urged Israel to take all possible precautionary measures to prevent civilian casualties," adding, "We recognize that many Palestinian families in Gaza are suffering through no fault of their own and that Palestinian civilians have lost their lives."

A U.S. State Department official stated that discussions have been held with Israeli and Egyptian authorities about opening the Rafah border, which connects Gaza to neighboring Egypt, to allow Americans and other foreigners to move out of Gaza.

The U.S. is discussing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations relief agencies the establishment of "safe zones" for Palestinian residents within Gaza. The official said that Israel, which Secretary Blinken discussed this issue with, also agreed on the "need to establish some safe zones so that civilians can be moved to safe places during Israel's legitimate security operations."

The official explained that there are no discussions about Palestinians in Gaza escaping through Egypt. Arab countries are concerned that if all Palestinian residents leave, Israel might annex the Gaza Strip, and they are analyzed as not wanting Palestinian refugees to enter their countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.