US President Joe Biden reached Israel to show solidarity with the country as it battles attacks from the terrorist group Hamas. Biden also backed Israel's claim that Hamas militants are behind the blast that killed a large number of Palestinians at a Gaza hospital. He, however, did not say based on what evidence he was making the statement.
The fireball that engulfed the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital delivered some of the most harrowing images yet from a 12-day war and wrecked White House plans for Biden's emergency diplomatic mission to the Middle East. Arab leaders, in the aftermath of the blast, called off their planned summit with Biden. Palestinian officials blamed an Israeli air strike for the blast, according to a Reuters report.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Biden for his "unequivocal support". President Isaac Herzog's office said the head of state had told Biden: "God bless you for protecting the nation of Israel."
The scenes of destruction from the hospital were horrific-- rescue workers scoured blood-stained debris for survivors. Gaza civil defence chief gave a death toll of 300, while health ministry sources put it at 500, According to a Reuters report. Palestinian ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra said rescuers were still recovering bodies. “This place created a safe haven for women and children, those who escaped the Israeli bombing,” a doctor at the hospital, Ibrahim Al-Naqa, told Reuters.
“Americans are grieving with you, they really are. And Americans are worried,” Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they met, a CNN report reads. At least 1,400 Israelis have lost their lives and at least 3,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip have been killed since the fighting began on October 7.
“I wanted the people of Israel – the people of the world – to know where the United States stands. … 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,” Biden said. “From the moment Israel was attacked, you’ve rightly drawn a clear line between the forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism,” Netanyahu said.
Biden has been attempting to walk the fine line between supporting Israel and keeping the violence from spiralling. Talking on the Hamas taking hostages, Biden said, “Imagine what those children hiding from Hamas were thinking? It's beyond my comprehension," BBC reported.
