During a solidarity visit to Israel, United States President Joe Biden expressed support for Israel’s claim that Palestinian militants were responsible for a hospital strike in Gaza. The strike was deemed devastating, and the Israeli military argued that Palestinian militants, specifically an outgoing Islamic Jihad rocket, misfired and caused the explosion. Health authorities in Gaza, under Hamas control, reported that the explosion killed between 200 and 300 people.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, President Biden stated, “I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday. And based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.” He emphasized the need to verify these events, acknowledging that some are uncertain about the details.
President Biden also noted that Hamas does not represent all Palestinian people and highlighted the suffering it has brought to the population. He encouraged Netanyahu to provide “life-saving capacity” to help innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of the conflict.
The United States and Israel are working on a plan to allow aid into Gaza, which has been under a 16-year Israeli blockade and subjected to bombardment. President Biden praised Israel’s courage and bravery during this challenging time.
Netanyahu, in response, expressed his appreciation for the support from the United States and stressed the need for global unity against Hamas. He likened the global unity against Hamas to previous efforts to defeat the Nazis and ISIS. Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel is committed to defeating Hamas and eliminating the threat it poses.