Biden attempts to justify Israel's raid of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza

The United States President Joe Biden on Thursday stressed that the only ultimate solution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza was a two-state solution as he continued to push the Israeli narrative that al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was used as a "military headquarters" by Hamas.

Speaking after a meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in California, Biden attempted to justify Israel's raid of al-Shifa Hospital on Wednesday as he reiterated baseless Israeli claims that the hospital was being used by Hamas as headquarters.

"Hamas (has) their headquarters, their military hidden under (the) hospital. And that's a fact," Biden told reporters despite the fact that Israel has provided little in the way of proof of any such headquarters apart from a small amount of weaponry supposedly inside the hospital filmed by the Israeli army.

"Israel did not go in with large number of troops, did not raid, did not rush everything down. They've gone in with their soldiers carrying weapons. We've discussed the need for them to be incredibly careful," Biden said even though Gaza Ministry of Health has said that Israel sent bulldozers into the hospital which is full of medical staff, displaced people and patients, including premature babies, who have been taken out of incubators because of a lack of power and oxygen.

The ministry said that Israel has fired upon the medical complex, killing a number of civilians while human rights organizations have stressed that attacks on hospitals are war crimes under international law.

When pressed on the evidence regarding the claims of Hamas headquarters at Al-Shifa Hospital, Biden was muted as he said that he could not share details.

"Hamas does have headquarters, weapons, material below this hospital and I suspect others," he stated.

Regarding the hostage situation, Biden said that negotiations were ongoing and there was great cooperation from the Qataris. The U.S. president continued to refuse to call for a ceasefire as he said that he believed the conflict would continue until Hamas was rendered inoperable.

Biden brushed past the civilian catastrophe that Israeli offensive has caused since Oct. 7 as he said that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) "acknowledges they have an obligation to use as much caution as they can and going after their targets."

"It's not like they're rushing in the hospital knocking down doors and you know pulling people aside and shooting people indiscriminately," he said.

"I made it clear ... that I think the only ultimate answer here is a two-state solution. I can't tell you how long (the conflict) is going to last but I can tell you I don't think it ultimately ends until there's a two-state solution," Biden emphasized.

"I made it clear to the Israelis. I think it's a big mistake for them to think they're gonna occupy Gaza and maintain Gaza. I don't think that works."

Source: Newsroom