In Tel Aviv, US President Joe Biden arrived just hours after Israel conducted a deadly airstrike on a Gaza City hospital, resulting in the loss of hundreds of Palestinian lives and eliciting condemnation from leaders worldwide.
During his solidarity visit to Israel, Biden supported Israel’s claim that Palestinian fighters were responsible for the devastating hospital strike in Gaza, stating that Hamas had brought “only suffering” to the Palestinian people. He expressed deep sadness and outrage over the incident but emphasized the need for further investigation, acknowledging that there were uncertainties surrounding the event.
Biden encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide life-saving aid to innocent Palestinians caught in the conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Israel had agreed to collaborate with the United States on a plan to deliver aid to Gaza, which has been under siege for 12 days and an Israeli blockade for 16 years. Israel’s threat of a ground invasion loomed after the October 7 assault by Hamas.
Netanyahu, despite facing domestic criticism for the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, welcomed Biden’s visit, hailing it as the “first visit of an American president in Israel in a time of war.” He called for global unity against Hamas, comparing the need to defeat the group to the world’s past efforts against the Nazis and ISIS.
The hospital deaths, a tragic consequence of the ongoing Gaza conflict, led to the cancellation of a summit by Jordan, where leaders from various nations had planned to meet. The incident further escalated tensions in the region, sparking protests against Israel in many cities across the Arab and Muslim world.
Biden, while expressing his support for Israel and its military campaign in retaliation for previous attacks by Hamas, acknowledged the dire situation in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread destruction, leaving survivors with limited access to essential supplies such as food, water, and fuel. UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need for an end to violence on all sides to prevent the situation in Gaza from deteriorating further.