US President Joe Biden said in a discussion with Chilean President Gabriel Boric that what is happening between Israel and Hamas is a conflict of historic importance that will shape the entire world in the next half century, reports Le Figaro.

The resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at the center of a meeting between Joe Biden and Gabriel Borik on Thursday. In the Oval Office, the US head of state analyzed the scope of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in the context of history, the White House said in a statement. “In my opinion, there are moments, maybe every six to eight generations, when the world changes in a very short period of time,” he told his Chilean counterpart, adding: “We are in that moment.”

Almost a month after a bloody attack by Hamas militants in Israel, and as the Israeli government bombards the Gaza Strip to destroy the terrorist organization, the two heads of state underlined the gravity of the moment. “I think what happens in the next two to three years will determine what the world looks like in the next five to six decades,” Joe Biden said. “Maybe together we can do it better,” he told his colleague in the context of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of bilateral relations between Chile and the United States.

“The only problem I have with you is that you’re too young”

In its press release, the White House also announced the beginning of a conversation between the two leaders, which took on a relaxed tone.

Gabriel Borich, who in 2021 became the youngest president in the history of his country, at the age of 35, was mocked by the American president about his youth. “Look, you know, the only problem I have with you is that you’re too young,” said Joe Biden, who at 80 (he’ll be 81 in a few days – no) is the world’s oldest president . US history. “It’s not a problem,” answered the Chilean interlocutor to everyone’s satisfaction.

Joe Biden, who himself was elected senator at a very young age, compared his story to that of the president of Chile. In 1972, when he was 30, the Democratic president became the youngest senator in Congress at the time. “I was elected when I was 29 years old. You had to be 30 years old to be a senator. I had to wait,” he told his Chilean counterpart, before congratulating him: “Mr. President, this is very good.” Gabriel Boric added, recalling that he himself was elected to the Chilean Congress at the age of 27. “Well, then we have one road (…) I hope to go as far as you.”

Chile recalled its ambassador from Israel

Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who this week condemned Israeli military airstrikes on Gaza and recalled his ambassador to Israel, said on Thursday he told President Joe Biden that Israel’s actions violated international law, Reuters reported.

Borich said he condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel that killed 1,400 people and called for the release of Israeli hostages, but added that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza was disproportionate and violated international law.

“These attacks by Hamas have no justification, they deserve global condemnation, but the response of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu also deserves the strongest condemnation from our side,” he told reporters after meeting with Biden at the White House. “Undoubtedly, we can say that the response was disproportionate and violates international humanitarian law,” Borych added. “The state’s right to defend itself has limits, and these limits include respect for the lives of innocent civilians, especially children, and respect for civilian humanitarian law,” the Chilean leader said.

When asked what Biden was saying about all this, Borich said that he was unable to speak on behalf of the American president.

The White House later released a statement saying Biden “reaffirmed continued efforts to urgently increase and sustain the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance — including food, water and medical care — to civilians in Gaza.”

Biden is facing growing pressure abroad and at home for not calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, even though the White House is now advocating for a series of “pauses” in the fighting to allow people to leave Gaza and to allow aid to arrive. .

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