With the Islamic holy month of Ramadan just days away, U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an urgent warning – failure to reach a ceasefire in the escalating Gaza violence could precipitate a “very dangerous” situation with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Biden did not mince words about the imperative to quickly halt airstrikes and rocket attacks between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. He emphasized the symbolic importance of Ramadan in dialling down tensions.
“I hope that we’ll be able to get a ceasefire in place before too long…it would be very dangerous if the cycle continued into next week and beyond, with the beginning of Ramadan,”
The President cautioned.
His comments come amid frantic but so far futile diplomacy aimed at securing at least a temporary pause in hostilities that have killed over 180 Palestinians and 10 Israelis. Civilian casualties on both sides are mounting daily.
Both Israel and Hamas have so far defied international calls for a truce as Israeli jets continue pounding the densely populated Gaza Strip while Palestinian rockets streak toward Israeli cities. The violence risks dragging the bitter decades-old conflict into an all-out war.
While reinforcing America’s “unequivocal” support for Israel’s right to self-defence, Biden stressed the urgency of protecting civilian lives, especially with Ramadan’s solemn spirit just around the corner. The Muslim holy month typically sees tensions spike across the Palestinian territories.
With that powder keg timing approaching rapidly, Biden’s remarks reflect growing White House fears that an extended new cycle of violence could trigger wider regional unrest. The President’s blunt warning signals he may be preparing stronger intervention to force the warring parties’ hand.
