Joe Biden will visit Israel tomorrow and hold talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu
Tel Aviv, Israel:
US President Joe Biden will make a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday following the Hamas attacks, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced, while also saying Israel and Washington had agreed to develop a plan for aid to Gaza.
Blinken spoke after a nearly eight-hour meeting at the Defense Ministry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the second visit by the top US diplomat since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
On Wednesday I will travel to Israel to stand in solidarity with Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack.
I will then travel to Jordan to address serious humanitarian needs, meet with leaders and make clear that Hamas does not stand up for Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
– President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2023
“The president will reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security,” Blinken said early Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
On Wednesday, @POTUS will visit Israel. He comes here at a crucial time for Israel, for the region and for the world.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 17, 2023
“Israel has the right and even the obligation to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks,” Blinken said.
Biden “will hear from Israel what it needs to defend its people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs,” he said.
Blinken said the United States has also received assurances from Israel about working to bring foreign aid to the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip as Israel prepares a ground offensive against the Hamas-ruled area.
Biden hopes to “hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and allows humanitarian aid to flow to civilians in Gaza in a manner that does not benefit Hamas,” Blinken said.
“At our request, the United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan that will allow humanitarian assistance from donor countries and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza,” Blinken said.
He said the two sides discussed the “possibility of creating areas to keep civilians out of danger.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
