Biden Arrives in Israel... "Hamas Committed Acts More Atrocious Than IS"

U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived in Israel, which is at war with the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

U.S. President Joe Biden (right) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to major foreign media on the 18th (local time), President Biden disembarked from his plane (Air Force One) around 11 a.m. and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who came directly onto the runway at Tel Aviv International Airport. In his opening remarks released before the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Biden said, "Hamas has committed acts more brutal than the Islamic State (IS)," and added, "The United States mourns with you." He further stated, "The United States will ensure that Israel has everything necessary for its defense."

During the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Biden is expected to express solidarity with Israel and reaffirm the United States' support. He is also anticipated to hear about the strategies and plans related to the war from Netanyahu, who is considering deploying ground forces, and to announce military support policies.

Efforts are also expected to be made to find solutions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. It is likely that President Biden will emphasize that Israel's military operations toward the Gaza Strip should not become "excessive retaliation" causing numerous civilian casualties.

President Biden had originally planned to visit Jordan and hold a four-party summit with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas, but the plan was canceled. This was due to the aftermath of the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, which killed hundreds of civilians the previous day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.