War in the Middle East: Biden in Israel – rocket strike overshadows visit

A devastating rocket strike at a clinic in the Gaza Strip, presumably killing hundreds, has overshadowed the visit of US President Joe Biden. After the escalation of violence in the Middle East, he demonstratively stood behind Israel.

“You are not alone,” Biden said at the start of a joint meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli War Cabinet. He had previously made it clear that he believed that the explosion at the hospital in the Gaza Strip was apparently caused by “the other team.”

Meeting with Abbas canceled

The health authority in Gaza blames the Israeli army for Tuesday evening’s accident. Israel’s army, however, spoke of a misdirected rocket from the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad that exploded in a parking lot in front of the hospital. The information could not be independently verified.

Biden said he was deeply outraged and saddened by the incident. “From what I saw, it looks like it was done by the other team, not you.” But there are “a lot of people out there” who aren’t sure.

The incident dramatically increased tensions in the region, fueled concerns about an escalation and expansion of the conflict – and also threw Biden’s travel plans into chaos. Biden originally wanted to fly from Israel to Jordan to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s head of state Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. However, after the rocket hit the hospital in Gaza, Jordan canceled the meeting at short notice.

USA “today, tomorrow and always” at Israel’s side

Biden assured Israel of continued support. The US would “continue to support Israel when it comes to defending its people,” he said. “Seventy-five years ago, your founders declared that this nation would be a land based on freedom, justice and peace,” he said. “The United States stands with you in defending that freedom, pursuing justice, and supporting peace. Today, tomorrow, and always.”

The USA sees itself as Israel’s protective power. Every year they support the country with billions, a significant portion of which goes towards missile defense and military technology. The USA helped develop the “Iron Dome” missile defense system, which has been in use since 2011. Among other things, it destroys short-range missiles in the air. The White House said that Biden also wanted to discuss what further support Israel specifically needs at the meeting with the Israeli War Cabinet.

Netanyahu promises to protect civilians

The USA absolutely wants to avoid a further escalation of the conflict in the region. As a deterrent, they have deployed several warships to the eastern Mediterranean. Air Force squadrons with their fighter jets were also sent to the region. The Ministry of Defense has placed 2,000 US soldiers on increased operational readiness in view of the escalation of violence in the Middle East. This makes it possible to react quickly to the changing security environment, the Pentagon said.

Biden also said Washington will work with Israel and partners in the region to prevent further tragedies for innocent civilians. In addition to sending a message of solidarity, the US President’s short visit was also about pushing for the protection of the civilian population in Gaza. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said before the trip that Biden wanted to reiterate “very, very clearly” the US demand that humanitarian aid come to the area, “not just on a one-off basis, but on a sustained basis.”

Netanyahu said in the meeting with Biden that as the war continues, Israel will do everything it can to keep civilians out of harm’s way. “We have asked and will continue to ask them to move to safer areas.”

Freeing hostages is also important for Biden in terms of domestic policy

At the end of his short visit, Biden also met with Israeli rescue workers and families who lost relatives in the major attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th or whose family members were abducted by Hamas. According to US information, there are also Americans among them. Freeing them becomes more difficult with every escalation – and is a priority for Biden, who is also campaigning for the 2024 election as a presidential candidate – he is judged by many by how well he can ensure the protection of his compatriots. In Tel Aviv, Biden again promised to do everything he could to bring them home.

Biden is an advocate of personal conversations instead of phone calls and video links. The talks with Abbas, al-Sisi and King Abdullah II in Jordan would have been all the more important. When asked why Biden did not postpone the entire trip in light of the incident in the hospital, a US government official said: Even if the meeting in Jordan does not take place, that does not negate the motives for the trip to Israel.