By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. president Joe Biden strongly defended Israel on Monday, saying Israeli forces are not committing genocide in their military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza, in a rejection of criticism from pro-Palestinian protesters.
“What is happening in Gaza is not genocide. We reject that,” Biden said at a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House.
Biden has faced protests at many of his events across the country from pro-Palestinian advocates who have dubbed him “Genocide Joe” for his steadfast support of Israel.
In remarks at the White House meeting, Biden emphasized his belief that Israel was the victim, dating back to the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants, who killed 1,200 people and took hundreds of hostages.
He said U.S. support for the safety and security of Israelis is “rock solid.”
“We stand with Israel to eliminate (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar and the rest of Hamas’s butchers. We want Hamas to be defeated. We are working with Israel to make that happen,” he said.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in their efforts to win the freedom of sick, elderly and injured hostages still held by the militants have stalled, but Biden vowed not to give up on seeking their release.
“We’re going to bring them home, we’re going to bring them home, come hell or high water,” Biden said.
Biden has also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, something he reiterated in his speech at Morehouse College on Sunday.
Biden also dismissed the International Criminal Court prosecutor for saying he had sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense chief over alleged war crimes.
The ICC prosecutor also said on Monday that he had applied for arrest warrants for Hamas chief Sinwar and two other Hamas leaders.
Biden has faced mounting political pressure from his own party in recent months over his handling of the Gaza conflict, as the Palestinian death toll has risen to more than 35,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and the Israeli siege has led to dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. area.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler)
