Biden: Israel must differentiate between Hamas and Palestinian civilians

https://timesofisrael.com/liveblog-december-19

“Hamas has no regard — none whatsoever — for whether those students or those civilians live or die. They faced additional burdens, too: Hamas is holding a significant number of hostages, including American hostage,” he adds.

Despite these “added burdens,” Biden says Israel must differentiate between Hamas and Palestinian civilians, urging it to work to minimize non-combatant deaths.

“We are talking to Israel and Arab partners about a political future for the Palestinian people and a two-state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed, where Israel enjoys peace and normal relations with Arab neighbors,” he says.

The US president also repeats his assertion that “one of the reasons Hamas moved when they did is… [because] I was working very closely with the Saudis on the formal recognition of Israel.”