President Biden Criticizes Israeli Settlers’ Reprisals Against Palestinians in West Bank

6

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden publicly denounced actions taken by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, following the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. He further pledged to intensify his efforts toward achieving a two-state resolution to the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict.

Biden characterized the retaliatory activities by “radical settlers” as exacerbating the already volatile situation in the Middle East that had been instigated by the Hamas attacks.

“Immediate cessation is imperative. Those responsible must be held to account. It must end now,” said Biden, while initiating a press conference alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was in Washington for an official state visit.

According to Palestinian authorities, violent incidents perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians have escalated since the October 7 Hamas offensive. Human rights organizations have reported that settlers have set fire to vehicles and launched assaults on several minor Bedouin settlements, causing the residents to relocate.

The West Bank Protection Consortium, an amalgamation of NGOs and donor nations that includes the European Union, has stated that settler violence has led to the forced displacement of hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7. This is in addition to the over 1,100 Palestinians who have been displaced since the beginning of 2022.

The escalation of fatal violence in the West Bank comes as Israeli forces continue operations against Palestinian militants subsequent to the Hamas offensives from Gaza. This uptick in violence complicates the situation for the Palestinian Authority, which has limited governance over parts of the West Bank and is widely disapproved of by Palestinians, particularly for its collaboration with Israel on security issues.

President Biden once more censured the severe nature of the Hamas attacks, which resulted in the loss of 1,400 Israeli lives. He posited that a contributing motive for Hamas might be an attempt to undermine American-led initiatives to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and certain Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia.

Biden emphasized that the focus should shift toward a two-state solution once the current conflict between Israel and Hamas is resolved. “Both Israelis and Palestinians have an equal right to coexist in security, respect, and peace,” Biden stated. “Upon the cessation of this crisis, future planning is essential, and that planning must orient toward a two-state solution.”

The Health Ministry controlled by Hamas claims over 6,500 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in reprisal attacks. While expressing skepticism over these numbers, Biden stressed the importance of Israel being circumspect in its military responses to minimize civilian casualties.

“Civilian loss is regrettably a consequence of warfare,” said Biden. “It is incumbent upon Israel to ensure that their military actions are directed at those responsible for instigating this conflict.”

Lastly, President Biden clarified that he has not explicitly sought commitments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone any prospective ground invasion of Gaza until hostages are safely released. “I have suggested that if it’s feasible to ensure the safe release of these individuals, then that should be pursued. However, I have not insisted upon this action,” Biden stated during a White House press conference. The White House reports that approximately 10 Americans are currently missing amid the Israel-Hamas hostilities.

---

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News journalist Josh Boak.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden Condemns Israeli Settler Violence Against Palestinians

More about Biden Condemns Israeli Settler Violence Against Palestinians

• President Biden’s Press Conference Transcript
• West Bank Protection Consortium Report
• Human Rights Organizations on Settler Violence
• Hamas-run Health Ministry Death Toll
• Palestinian Authority’s Role and Popularity
• U.S.-Led Efforts to Normalize Israel-Arab Relations
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s State Visit
• White House Statement on Missing Americans Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict