US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Israel on Wednesday to express his support for the country’s fight against Hamas after Washington claimed that PM Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to allow humanitarian supplies to reach besieged Gazans.
Biden’s Scheduled Visit to Israel
Biden’s visit will indicate US solidarity for its key Middle East partner after Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing over 1,400 Israelis. Israel has responded by tightening its siege on Hamas-ruled Gaza, particularly by restricting fuel entry and striking the territory with air attacks, killing over 2,800 Palestinians and displacing thousands more.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, said that after visiting Israel, Biden will proceed to Amman to see the leaders of Jordan and Egypt and meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during a one-day visit to the region.
US President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday and then will visit Jordan, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said:https://t.co/qsevPkh89s pic.twitter.com/A9jF0zzcZF
— TASS (@tassagency_en) October 17, 2023
US Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also mentioned that Biden will reiterate that “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination, and discuss the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza.”
Speaking from Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US president would be “coming here at a critical moment for Israel, the region, and the world.”
Following discussions with senior Israeli leaders, Blinken stated that Biden would reiterate the US’ “solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security.”
According to Blinken, the US president would make it clear that Israel has the right, “and indeed the duty,” to defend its citizens from Hamas and other terrorists and prevent future attacks.
Blinken said Biden would meet with Netanyahu, reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security, and receive a detailed briefing on the country’s war goals and strategy.
Furthermore, Blinken stated that the US and Israel had agreed to “develop a plan” to provide humanitarian supplies to people in Gaza, “including the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way,” at the request of Washington.
“He’s coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world.”
— Bloomberg (@business) October 17, 2023
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks of President Joe Biden's visit to Israel https://t.co/Y3rlflBEnx pic.twitter.com/RSTRfQgokO
Blinken’s Diplomatic Tour in Middle East
Last week, the US Secretary of State visited Israel, where he stated that American support for the Jewish state will never waver in the aftermath of Hamas attacks.
“The message I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough to defend yourself. But as long as America exists you will never, ever have to,” Blinken stated on Thursday in Tel Aviv, alongside PM Netanyahu.
As per the reports, the top American official’s visit to Israel is the first stage of a massive diplomatic drive to several Middle Eastern countries to prevent the violence from escalating to other regions, reports suggested.
Blinken had visited Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt, visiting four different countries in a single day. Later, he announced that he was returning to Israel to engage in more talks.
Israel had called on Egypt to allow all Gaza people over the border to prevent an attack, but Blinken said the message from his previous talks was quite clear.
Blinken stated, “We believe that people should be able to stay in Gaza, their home. But we also want to make sure that they’re out of harm’s way and that they’re getting the assistance they need.”
Before heading for Tel Aviv on Sunday, Blinken spoke to the media in Cairo. “What I’ve heard from virtually every partner was determination,” he reported.
“A shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn’t spread to other places, a shared view to safeguard innocent lives, a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it, and we’re working very much on that,” Blinken explained.