During an event held by his foundation, the Obama Foundation’s Democracy Forum, former President Barack Obama addressed the Israel-Hamas conflict. At the Thursday forum, Obama called for a two-state solution and an end to the “occupation,” though he did not clarify which occupation he was referring to.
Obama underscored the continued hurdles to reaching a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians in his speech. He emphasized the importance of a solution that provides genuine security for Israel, respects its right to exist, and leads to the end of the occupation while allowing the Palestinian people to establish a viable state and exercise their right to self-determination.
The setting for these words is the recent terrorist attack against Israel by the Palestinian governing body, Hamas, on October 7, which resulted in the tragic death of over 1,400 Israeli people. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that over 9,000 people have died since the attack as the Israeli Defense Forces continue their ground incursion into the territory. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the death toll is expected to grow.
Obama acknowledged the conflict’s emotional cost, as well as the difficulties of being neutral in the face of such suffering. He demanded a moral reckoning, highlighting the burden that the protracted crisis places on all of us.
The former president also said that the war between Israel and Hamas has created internal debate and divisions inside the Obama Foundation. He explained that his team had to handle their emotions, concerns, and disagreements about the problem. These discussions have shown varying judgments of the road required to attain desired results, such as stopping bloodshed and encouraging peaceful coexistence between two sovereign and free peoples.
It’s worth noting that the US administration, led by President Joe Biden, has not formally endorsed a cease-fire, instead reiterating Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas. However, there has been a shift in tone, with progressive groups and world leaders expressing support for a humanitarian “pause” amid rising pressure. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed fear that a halt would give Hamas time to reorganize and plot new strikes.