IRIA News

President of the United States Joe Biden arrived in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023, to show solidarity with its closest ally Israel as its forces carry out bombing and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths.

Biden’s visit to Israel comes only a day after his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, completed his series of meetings with the Arab leaders as he tried to ease the situation and justified Israel’s attacks in Gaza. The U.S. President arrived in Tel Aviv on the same day the horrifying attack at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City claimed more than 500 lives.

Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other Israeli leaders as soon as he landed in Tel Aviv. He spoke about new agreements to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza and to send aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The U.S. President also promised a massive new congressional request for funding for Israel’s defense. 

“You are not alone,” Biden tells Israeli leadership

During his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister and the country’s War Cabinet, Biden reiterated his steadfast support for Israel and reaffirmed U.S. determination to provide the Israeli government with what it needs to protect its citizens.

“I come to Israel with a single message, you’re not alone,” Biden said in remarks at the conclusions of his meetings with the Israeli leadership. “You are not alone. As long as the United States stands, and we will stand forever, we will not let you ever be alone. Most importantly, I know the recent terrorist assault on the people of this nation has left a deep, deep wound. More than 1,300 innocent Israelis killed, including at least 31 American citizens, by the terrorist group Hamas.”

“Americans are grieving with you, they really are. And Americans are worried,” Biden told Netanyahu as they began a bilateral meeting, acknowledging the complex dynamics of the situation. “Because we know this is not an easy field to navigate, what you have to do.”

“The world is looking. Israel has a value set like the United States does, and other democracies. And they’re looking to see what we’re going to do,” he told Netanyahu, who called Biden’s presence as the first American president in Israel at a time of war “deeply, deeply moving.”

Netanyahu thanked Biden for the “unequivocal support” and “unprecedented” cooperation between the two nations. “From the moment Israel was attacked, you’ve rightly drawn a clear line between the forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism,” Netanyahu told the president.

The terrorists will not win. Freedom will win. pic.twitter.com/asmfbqbCm5

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023

Hospital blast looms over Biden trip

While seated beside the Israeli leadership, the U.S. President backed Israel’s denial of responsibility for the horrifying hospital attack in Gaza, which resulted in hundreds of deaths including women and children. Biden backed Israel’s claims that the blast at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was a result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Tel Aviv has provided no proof to back its claim, however, the U.S. President said that his military sources suggest the attack was not conducted by Israel. The U.S. has the capability to detect launches and determine their origin through its surveillance satellites, ground-based radar, and other technology. So far, none of the said technology has been utilized to determine the origin of the attack that claimed hundreds of innocent lives.

Palestinian administration is certain that the attack on the hospital was carried out by the Israeli forces, as none of the military groups in Palestine have the capability to carry out an attack at such scale. Prime Minister Netanyahu had also signaled the bombing of hospitals and other civilian targets as he said that his forces are fighting a “different kind of enemy.”

Some media sources have also reported that there was no evidence for Israeli claims and that Palestinian rockets are not large enough to do this much damage. The director of the Gaza Baptist Hospital claimed that prior to the bombing, Israeli officials told them: “We warned you yesterday with two bombs. Why have you not evacuated the hospital until this moment?”

Biden’s meeting with Arab leaders canceled after hospital bombing

The U.S.’s continued backing of Israel despite the hospital explosion has caused severe disruption in Washington’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Biden was expected to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan following his visit to Israel.

However, the meetings were scrapped following the attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. The White House cited a period of mourning announced by Abbas as the reason for the postponement.

U.S. announced $100 million aid for Palestine

President Biden announced the United States is providing $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. He said that the funding will help support over a million displaced and conflict-affected people with clean water, food, hygiene support, medical care, and other essential needs.

“Civilians are not to blame and should not suffer for Hamas’s horrific terrorism. Civilian lives must be protected and assistance must urgently reach those in need,” a White House statement said. The U.S. President also added that the aid is specifically for humanitarian purposes and would not end up in the hands of Hamas. He said that the aid would be provided through trusted partners including UN agencies and international NGOs.

I just announced $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

This money will support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians.

And we will have mechanisms in place so this aid reaches those in need – not Hamas or terrorist groups.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023

“Let me be clear,” Biden said. “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.”

Israel to allow limited aid into Gaza after U.S. pressure

After hours of talks with Israel’s prime minister and his war cabinet, the U.S. president announced that Israel had agreed to allow the opening of the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing to deliveries of desperately needed food, water, and medical supplies. “The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine, and shelter,” Biden said.

Following a request from President 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. However, Israel insisted that it ”will not allow any humanitarian assistance from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our captives are not returned.’

Gaza Strip, a besieged enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians faces a severe shortage of food, water, medicines, and fuel after Israel cut off all supplies into Gaza and launched airstrikes in retaliation of attacks by Hamas on October 7.