President Joe Biden used Thursday’s State of the Union address to address the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza, calling for “two states” and more aid for the Palestinians as Israeli forces continue to attack civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Biden’s remarks came five months after Hamas’ deadly terrorist attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, when the militant group killed 1,200 civilians and soldiers and took at least 200 more hostage.
Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas – which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza – and indicated that a long military campaign to defeat the Islamist militants was on the horizon. But in the time since then, the Israeli siege has greatly harmed civilians.
An air force member died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in a protest against the war in Gaza
Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza – most of them women and children – since the Israeli offensive began, according to the Palestinian health ministry, and protesters have accused Israel of committing genocide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly rejected accusations of genocide, saying the country is acting in self-defense, and has reportedly held talks on a proposed six-week pause in fighting, which would allow aid trucks to enter Gaza every day.
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Nation Address. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Addressing the situation during his State of the Union address, Biden, 81, said: “As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime. There is no another path that guarantees Israel’s security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees that Palestinians can live in peace and dignity.”
The two-state solution is based on the establishment of two independent states: Israel and Palestine. Currently, the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank are occupied by Israel.
Joe Biden in a prime-time speech on Israel and Ukraine to gain support for war aid
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President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address on Thursday.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Elsewhere in his speech, Biden called on Israel to stop cutting aid to the Palestinians as the conflict continues, saying, “Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that aid workers are not caught in the crossfire. To Israel’s leadership, I say this: humanitarian aid cannot be a second-rate item or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives must be a priority.”
Biden also announced that while negotiations are ongoing, he will launch an “emergency mission” to build a temporary dock on the Gaza coast that would allow large ships to deliver aid across the Mediterranean.
“This temporary wharf would allow a huge increase in the amount of humanitarian aid arriving in Gaza every day,” the president said. But Israel also has to do its part.
After the speech, Biden was caught speaking on a hot mic that he planned to talk seriously with Netanyahu about the current situation in Gaza.
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Biden’s State of the Union address was a huge success for his re-election campaign, confirming to PEOPLE that the hours of Thursday night at 9, 10 and 11 pm — during and immediately after the president’s speech — were his best fundraising hours of the campaign cycle. far.
A CNN poll conducted by SSRS after the State of the Union found that 62% of respondents who listened to the speech believed Biden’s policies would lead the country in the right direction. When the same people were polled just before the speech, only 45% believed Biden’s policies were what the country needed.
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Source: HIS Education