Biden: "Hospital Explosion Caused by Terror Group Rocket Misfire... Humanitarian Aid for Gaza Strip" (Comprehensive)

U.S. President Joe Biden, who visited Israel amid its war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, stated on the 18th (local time) that the explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital, which killed hundreds, was "due to a misfired rocket from a terrorist group in Gaza (not Israel)," according to the information confirmed by the U.S. He also promised $100 million in humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip and added that he would request an unprecedented support package from the U.S. Congress to defend Israel.

At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, President Biden said, "Like the rest of the world, we mourn the loss of innocent Palestinian lives."

On the same day, President Biden began by saying, "I came to Israel with a simple message: 'You are not alone,'" and added, "I will not let you enter a mosque that unleashes pure evil on the world, reminiscent of IS's worst atrocities." He continued, "The brutality we have witnessed has deeply wounded countries around the world," and asserted, "Terrorists will not prevail."

President Biden reiterated that evidence confirmed Israel was not responsible for the hospital explosion in Gaza the previous day, which had sparked international outrage.

He claimed, "Radar systems tracked rockets launched by terrorists within Gaza at the time of the explosion," emphasizing, "It was the other side (not Israel)." Earlier, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden had said, "From what I have seen, it appears to have come from the other side, not you (Israel)." When asked why he was so certain, he replied, "The data shown to me by the U.S. Department of Defense."

President Joe Biden is being greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport on Wednesday, October 18.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The hospital explosion, which occurred just before President Biden's arrival in Israel the previous day and resulted in approximately 500 civilian casualties, has heightened concerns about the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Arab countries, including Egypt, immediately blamed Israel for the hospital explosion. Anti-Israel and anti-Western protests have spread across the Arab world. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refuted the claims during a briefing by releasing videos and photos taken over the hospital before and after the explosion, asserting there were no signs of an airstrike by their forces. They also disclosed intercepted communications in which Hamas operatives mentioned a misfire. Currently, the Israeli military claims the incident was a misfire by another Palestinian militant group, the 'Islamic Jihad.'

In this context, President Biden's remarks are interpreted as strongly supporting Israel's claims regarding the hospital incident, which has become a significant factor in international public opinion. Adrian Watson, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), also confirmed in a statement that an analysis of all available data indicates the Gaza hospital explosion was not caused by Israel.

President Biden addressed those considering attacks on Israel, saying, "Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it," repeating the warning. This message was interpreted as directed at Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, amid concerns about their potential involvement in the war.

Additionally, President Biden expressed solidarity with Israel, acknowledging "the consuming anger" felt, but urged Israelis not to be consumed by rage. He said, "After 9/11 (perpetrated by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda), Americans were angry, and while we sought justice and achieved it, we also made mistakes," warning against repeating the same errors the U.S. made 20 years ago. The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that these remarks alluded to the U.S. invasion of Iraq following the 9/11 attacks in 2002.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

President Biden emphasized, "Most Palestinians are not Hamas," and "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people." He added, "Hamas used innocent people and families in Gaza as human shields," and "Palestinians are also suffering greatly."

He also pledged humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. President Biden said, "We will provide $100 million in humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip," and added, "I have asked Israel to agree to provide humanitarian assistance such as water, food, fuel, and medicine to civilians in Gaza who are not affiliated with Hamas, and Israel has agreed." In this regard, the Israeli government announced shortly after Biden's press conference that it would allow relief supplies to be delivered to southern Gaza through Egypt.

Furthermore, President Biden reaffirmed the U.S. support policy by stating, "Later this week, I will request an unprecedented support package for Israel from the U.S. Congress." However, the U.S. House of Representatives is currently in disarray, having not yet elected a successor speaker following the unprecedented removal of the previous speaker. On the same day, the U.S. Treasury Department added nine individuals and one organization linked to Hamas to its sanctions list for terrorism-related charges.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussed a resolution related to the war between Hamas and Israel but failed to adopt it due to a U.S. veto. The draft resolution, submitted by Brazil as the chair, condemned Hamas's attacks on Israel and all acts of violence against civilians and called for humanitarian access to Gaza. The U.S. objected to the resolution because it did not mention Israel's right to self-defense.

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