- U.S. President Joe Biden, during his visit to Israel on Wednesday, supported Israel’s claim that a severe hospital strike in Gaza was initiated by Palestinian militants, highlighting the suffering caused by Hamas.
While initiating discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Biden expressed his sorrow and anger over the Gaza hospital explosion. He indicated that the act appeared to be executed by opposing forces, not Israel.
Gaza’s health authorities, under Hamas governance, attributed the explosion, which took the lives of 200 to 300 people, to recent Israeli airstrikes. In contrast, the Israeli military pointed fingers at Palestinian militants, asserting a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad was responsible and promising to present evidence.
President Biden emphasized that Hamas doesn’t symbolize all Palestinians and has only inflicted pain upon them. He urged Netanyahu to facilitate life-saving measures for the innocent Palestinians trapped amidst the turmoil.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in discussing Biden’s visit, shared that Israel agreed to collaborate with the U.S. to provide aid to Gaza. Gaza has been under Israeli blockade for 16 years and has experienced intensified attacks for the past 12 days. Israel is also considering a ground invasion in response to a severe assault by Hamas militants on October 7.
Biden commended the resilience and bravery of Israelis during his visit. Despite facing backlash over Israel’s deadliest attack, Netanyahu warmly welcomed Biden, previously critical of some decisions by Israel’s government. Netanyahu praised Biden, even as he faced critiques from the opposition, for being the first U.S. president to visit Israel during wartime.
Launching his discussion with Biden, Netanyahu appealed for worldwide solidarity against Hamas. Drawing parallels to global efforts against Nazis and ISIS, Netanyahu emphasized the need for a unified front to combat Hamas, vowing to eliminate the grave threat they pose.
