US President Joe Biden has warned it would be a "grave mistake" for Israel to occupy Gaza, at a time when Israeli forces are preparing to carry out a ground military operation.
In an interview with CBS "Sixty Minutes", the US leader said Hamas "does not represent all of the Palestinian people," but added that the invasion and "eliminating extremists" is a "necessary requirement".
Reiterating the call for a two-state solution, Biden emphasized that "there must be a Palestinian authority. There must be a path to a Palestinian state".
Biden, however, did not think American troops would be necessary on the ground as Israel has one of the "finest fighting forces," even as American warships headed to the area amid growing clashes on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.
Israel declared war on Hamas last Sunday, a day after its fighters carried out attacks that left more than 1,400 dead.
Gaza authorities say at least 2,670 people died and 9,600 others wounded after Israel launched attacks.
Israel captured and occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. It withdrew its settlers and troops from Gaza in 2005, before Hamas' takeover of the Strip in 2007.
The conflict has sent tensions soaring.
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