October 18th 2023.
U.S. President Joe Biden has left Washington on a whirlwind trip that was originally meant to touch down in Israel and Jordan. It was meant to provide an update on Israel's war aims in its battle with Hamas militants, as well as stress the need to get humanitarian assistance to Gaza civilians.
However, the Arab leaders' summit with Biden in Jordan was cancelled due to a strike on a Gaza hospital late on Tuesday, which killed hundreds of Palestinians. Consequently, Biden will now only be spending part of Wednesday in Tel Aviv, where he will be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
Israel is preparing for a ground offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas militants in Gaza who have killed 1,300 people during a rampage through southern Israeli towns. Biden had planned to fly to Amman for talks about humanitarian assistance, but this plan was called off after Jordan's King Abdullah cancelled a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas stated after the Gaza hospital strike that he would not meet the U.S. President.
Biden's trip carries some risk as his goal is to show American solidarity with Netanyahu while trying to avoid a broader regional war involving Iran and its allies. To help with this, the United States has stationed a carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean and a second is on the way. Biden also wants to avert a humanitarian calamity in Gaza, where thousands have already been killed in Israeli bombardment over the last week.
When meeting with Netanyahu, Biden will be discussing concerns and possible red lines in the upcoming Gaza invasion. Additionally, he will be getting an update on the scores of hostages taken by Hamas and discussing a plan to allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing.
Biden has given Israel full-throated support while stressing the need to head off a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He has made it clear that Israel has the right and duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks. Ultimately, Biden will be stressing the importance of conducting operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties, enables humanitarian assistance, and does not benefit Hamas.
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