US President Joe Biden said that he believes that a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible to achieve even with the current Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, in power.

“No, not so,” he said when asked if he thought such an outcome was impossible with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in office.

Biden's statements came a day after Netanyahu rejected the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state once the fighting in the Gaza Strip ended, saying that Israel needs "security control over all lands," which contradicts "the idea of sovereignty."

Democrats expressed horror at those comments, but Biden said he believes Netanyahu does not oppose all two-state solutions.

Biden's statements came after he spoke with Netanyahu by phone for the first time in nearly a month about the ongoing war in Gaza and the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state after the war. The president nodded when asked if Netanyahu's refusal to create an independent Palestinian state was included in the call.

The White House confirmed that the timing of the call was coincidental.

“The President continues to believe in the promise and possibility of a two-state solution. He recognizes that it will take a lot of hard work,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a White House news conference. “It's going to take a lot of leadership there in the region, especially on both sides of the issue, and the United States is deeply committed to seeing that outcome eventually,” Kirby added.

He added: “It is clear that we are actively talking to them about post-conflict (post-war) Gaza, what governance should look like there, and the importance of an independent Palestinian state for long-term security, not only for the Palestinian people, but for the Israeli people as well.” 

The Biden administration reiterates its commitment to the two-state solution, “but Netanyahu’s recent statements have cast serious doubt on the feasibility of this vision,” according to administration sources, putting Biden and Netanyahu on a collision course over the scope of the Israeli war and the future of Gaza, further complicating Biden’s efforts to manage the policy crisis. Sensitive external.

Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), are pushing to amend the president's multibillion-dollar supplemental national security budget. The amendment, which now includes 18 countries, seeks to ensure that countries receiving US military aid - including Israel - use weapons in accordance with US law, international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict.

In November, Biden said conditional aid would be a "worthwhile idea," but the administration quietly ruled that out days after the president's comments. When asked whether the president's position on conditioning aid had changed amid recent developments, Kirby told reporters that the administration's approach had "achieved results."

He added: "We will continue this approach, which is clearly ensuring that Israel has the capabilities that it needs and that continues, but also urging them at every turn, to be more precise, more targeted, more deliberate in terms of harm to civilians." “We are urging increased humanitarian aid assistance, and of course we are trying to put in place other humanitarian laws so that we can conclude a hostage deal,” Kirby said, arguing that at the request of the United States, Israel had moved to less intensive operations and increased humanitarian aid flows.

Kirby also said Biden and Netanyahu also discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, as well as operations to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza “while maintaining significant military pressure on Hamas and its leaders.”