The White House reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution in Israel on Tuesday, claiming it “is the only way” to end the violence being carried out by Israel and Palestinians.
President Joe Biden has been receiving regular briefings on the escalating violence, including “another update” just prior to the start of Tuesday’s briefing with reporters, said press secretary Jen Psaki.
“He has directed his team to engage intensively with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, as well as leaders throughout the Middle East,” she stated. “His team is communicating a clear and consistent message in support of de-escalation, and that is our primary focus.”
Psaki claimed that Biden’s “support for Israel’s security, for its legitimate right to defend itself and its people is fundamental and will never waver.”
She additionally echoed her past condemnation of rocket attacks carried out by “Hamas and other terrorist groups” against targets in Israel but also took a stance “against extremism that is inflicting violence on both communities.”
Finally, noting Jerusalem is “a city of such importance to people of faith around the world,” Psaki closed by reiterating the Biden administration’s goal of achieving a “two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
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“That is the only way to ensure the just and lasting peace that two peoples have struggled to achieve,” Psaki stated. “Let us affirm that all people of faith deserve to enjoy these important celebrations without fear of violence and work[ing] toward peace and calm for all.”
Both Israeli forces and militants operating inside Gaza, including Hamas, have escalated violence in recent days.
Israel reportedly launched 130 airstrikes against targets in Gaza earlier on Tuesday, one of which destroyed a communications tower reportedly housing senior Hamas officials. Hamas responded in kind by expanding the scope of its retaliatory strikes to include Tel Aviv in addition to Jerusalem.
The Israeli Air Force tweeted that its Iron Dome system has intercepted about half of the rockets fired from Gaza
You can watch Tuesday’s entire briefing below.
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