U.S. President Joe Biden said that Israel had agreed to allow humanitarian assistance to begin flowing into Gaza from Egypt as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on October 18.
Biden was in Israel to show solidarity with America’s closest ally Israel after Hamas attacks last week.
Biden reiterated the U.S. was firmly behind Israel in its war against Hamas. The Palestinian armed group carried out surprise attacks on October 7 which killed nearly 1,400 Israelis. “I want you to know you’re not alone. We will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people,” Biden said. “We’ll continue to work with you and partners across the region to prevent more tragedy to innocent civilians.”
Netanyahu said the president’s visit was “deeply, deeply moving,” adding, “I know I speak for all the people of Israel when I say thank you Mr. President, thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow and always.”
“No higher priority than freeing the hostages”: Biden
In Tel Aviv, Biden assured the people that the United States is working with partners throughout the region to bring home about 200 people, including Americans, who are being held captive by Hamas. “I can’t speak publicly about all the details, but let me assure you: For me as the American president, there is no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages” he said.
Israel to allow food, water and medicines into Gaza through Egypt after Biden’s request
Biden said that Israel would allow aid into Gaza with the understanding that the aid should go to civilians and not Hamas militants. “I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said, likening the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. that killed nearly 3,000 people. “You can’t look at what has happened here … and not scream out for justice. While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it.” Biden said that his country had “sought and got justice” but also “made mistakes”.
Following a request from visiting U.S. President Joe Biden, Netanyahu’s office said it “will not prevent” deliveries of food, water and medicine for the civilians in the southern Gaza Strip, as long as the supplies do not reach Hamas.
Israel said that it will allow Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip — a besieged enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians. Israel had cut off the flow of food, fuel and water to the Gaza Strip after attack by Hamas.
White House says Israel ‘not responsible’ for Gaza hospital attack
The visit comes immediately after a deadly blast rocked a Gaza hospital, killing hundreds of Palestinians including children. Hamas blamed the explosion on Israel, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. Biden sided with Israel, saying that the attack appeared to be carried out “by the other team.”
The White House said in a statement that the current intelligence assessment shows Israel was “not responsible” for the explosion at a Gaza hospital, but that information was still being collected. The assessment is “based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
Gaza hospital attack sparks fury and protests in Middle East
United States is making swift efforts to try to prevent the war from spreading. But the Middle East and North Africa are already witnessing massive protests after a deadly strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip that killed nearly 500 people, according to Palestinian officials.
People in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt, and Tunisia West Bank took to the streets and gathered outside Israeli and also American embassies in their respective countries to strongly denounce the attack on hospital and express their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Biden announces $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and West Bank
The U.S. will send $100 million in aid for humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.“This money will support more than 1 million displaced in conflict affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza,” Biden said Wednesday during a speech in Tel Aviv.
Biden warned Hamas against attempting to disrupt the aid, saying that any such attempt by the group will end assistance. “If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, they will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people, and it will end as a practical matter,” Biden said. “It will stop the international community from being able to provide this aid.”
Biden heads back to US after Israel visit, Jordan summit canceled
President Joe Biden is returning to the United States after wrapping up his brief visit to Israel. The president was expected to spend another day in the Middle East, but a summit in Jordan with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was canceled after the Gaza hospital attack.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also returning to the U.S. He traveled to Israel on October 11, and also held meetings with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, before returning to Israel again.
US vetoes UN resolution condemning violence against civilians
As President Biden was in the Middle East region engaging in diplomacy, the United States has vetoed a UN resolution that would have condemned violence against all civilians in the Israel-Hamas war including “the heinous terrorists attacks by Hamas” against Israel, and would have pushed for humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
Twelve of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution sponsored by Brazil. The United States voted against, while Russia and the United Kingdom abstained.
More than 3,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes launched in retaliation of an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
