U.S. President Joe Biden will make a high-stakes visit to Israel on Wednesday as it prepares to escalate an offensive against Hamas militants that has set off a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and raised fears of a broader conflict with Iran.
Biden’s visit will mark a significant show of U.S. support for its top Middle East ally after Hamas gunmen killed 1,300 people during a rampage through southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7, the deadliest single day in Israel’s 75-year history.
Israel has responded by tightening its blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, including by restricting the entry of fuel, and bombarding the area with air strikes that have killed thousands of Palestinians and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Following hours of discussions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv early on Tuesday, confirming that President Biden would be visiting Israel.
“The president will hear from Israel what it needs to defend its people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs,” Blinken told reporters.
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According to Blinken, Biden is set to hold talks with Netanyahu, reasserting Washington’s dedication to Israel’s security, and receiving a thorough briefing on its objectives and strategy in the conflict.
“(The) president will hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas,” Blinken added.
Blinken also stated that he and Netanyahu had agreed to work together on a plan to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians, although they didn’t reveal the specific details.
Following his trip to Israel, Biden is scheduled to visit Jordan for a meeting with King Abdullah, as announced by U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby, who also mentioned the subsequent meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
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According to authorities in Gaza, over 2,800 individuals, including roughly a quarter of children, have lost their lives in Israeli assaults since October 7. Additionally, more than 10,000 injured individuals are in hospitals facing severe shortages of essential supplies.
Israeli officials say that in addition to the casualties Hamas inflicted, the Iran-backed group took some 199 hostages into Gaza.
Khaled Meshaal, a top Hamas leader, said on Monday the group “has what it needs” to free all Palestinians in Israel’s jails, indicating it may try to use the kidnapped Israelis as bargaining chips.
Soon after Meshaal’s remarks, the group’s armed wing separately said the non-Israelis it had taken captive were “guests” who would be released “when circumstances allow”.
Hamas released a video on Monday in which a French-Israeli woman captive was shown having her injured arm treated by an unidentified medical worker. She identified herself as 21-year-old Mia Schem and asked to be returned to her family as quickly as possible.
The Israeli military said it had struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad military targets overnight, including Hamas’ headquarters and a bank used by the group. It said a Hamas military operative was killed in the strikes.
