Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday, announces US Secretary of State

In addition to Tel Aviv, the US president will travel to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah II, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

US President Joe Biden will pay a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday, following the attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, announced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

– The president will reaffirm America’s solidarity with Israel and our strong commitment to its security,” Blinken said on Tuesday morning (local time) in Tel Aviv.

Blinken spoke after a nearly eight-hour evening meeting at the Defense Ministry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on his second visit since the Hamas attack on October 7.

– Israel has the right, and indeed the duty, to defend its population from attacks by Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks,” said Blinken.

Gaza hospitals overloaded, doctors speak of ‘catastrophic situation’

Biden “will hear from Israel what it needs to defend its people while we work with Congress to meet those needs,” he said.

White House National Security Adviser John Kirby said in Washington that in addition to Tel Aviv, Biden will travel to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah II, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Blinken also said that the United States has obtained guarantees from Israel to bring foreign aid to the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, as the Israeli military prepares for a ground offensive against Hamas-controlled territory.

Officials said the new US humanitarian aid coordinator, David Satterfield, would work with Israel to develop more concrete plans.

Biden hopes “to hear from Israel how it will develop operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and allows humanitarian assistance to reach citizens in Gaza and not benefit Hamas,” Blinken said.

– At our request, the United States and Israel agreed to formulate a plan that will allow humanitarian aid from donor countries and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza,” said Blinken.

He added that the two sides are discussing the “possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way”.

– We welcome the Israeli government’s commitment to work on this plan. The president (Biden) hopes to discuss the matter further when he arrives on Wednesday,” he explained.

Biden expressed his resolute solidarity with Israel after it suffered the worst attack in its 75-year history. But he has also expressed concern about tougher proposals that could affect civilians in Gaza and has previously pressed Israel to reverse its decision to cut off the water supply.

– “We share Israel’s concerns that Hamas could take or destroy aid destined for Gaza or prevent it from reaching the people who need it,” Blinken added.

– If Hamas prevents humanitarian aid to Gaza from reaching the population in any way, including seizing it, we will be the first to condemn this and work to prevent it from happening again.