WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday urged for peace in the Middle East, marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
Biden and Harris’s call for diplomacy comes amid rising tensions and global protests against the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza and Lebanon that could impact next month’s US presidential election.
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden participated in a Jewish candle-lighting ceremony at the White House, while Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, planted a memorial tree at the vice president’s residence.
Biden condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel. He reiterated the US commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its regional allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah. However, he also expressed concern for Palestinian civilians, referring to October 7 as a “dark day” for them. He stressed the need for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Harris expressed devastation over the loss of Israeli lives while also lamenting the “scale of death and destruction in Gaza.” She underscored that a “diplomatic solution” is essential for lasting peace, particularly as Israel intensifies military operations in southern Lebanon.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign has killed over 41,909 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza, the territory’s health ministry said.
Protests against Israel’s military actions were held in various US cities, including New York. Demonstrations have been increasingly visible, with some participants calling for an end to “genocide” in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Biden faces pressure from voters in key swing states, many of whom oppose the US support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The anniversary coincides with fears of a wider regional war, especially following an Iranian missile strike that could provoke Israeli retaliation.
Biden has cautioned Israel against targeting Iranian oil facilities, wary of potential spikes in oil prices that could impact the US economy and his party’s electoral prospects.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has largely disregarded Biden’s calls for restraint, prompting speculation among senior Democrats about whether Netanyahu is trying to influence the upcoming election in favor of Donald Trump, Biden’s rival.
Trump, meanwhile, has remained largely silent on the recent escalation in the Middle East but has shifted blame onto Biden and Harris for the ongoing crisis. Last week, he said that Israel should target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
