Israel Hamas Conflict: Biden supports Israel; says hospital blast caused by militants

President Joe Biden has landed in Israel on a solidarity visit following Hamas attacks, under the shadow of a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital that has inflamed regional tensions. He was received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden is expected to push for allowing critical humanitarian aid into Gaza during meetings with Netanyahu.

Biden was originally scheduled to attend a four-party summit in Amman which was hosted by Jordan with other Arab leaders to discuss the "dangerous" repercussions of the war in Gaza. But the deadly attack on a hospital in Gaza which killed over 500 has led to the cancellation of the event.


This cancellation will cost him an opportunity for the face-to-face conversations that he views as crucial for navigating this fraught moment.

Netanyahu and Biden Joint Address:
After Biden arrived in Israel, the two leaders conducted a joint address.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the recent blast which left over 500 dead, Biden said: "I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you."

"But there's a lot of people out there not sure, so we’ve got a lot, we’ve got to overcome a lot of things," Biden added.

"The world is looking. Israel has a value set like the United States does, and other democracies, and they are looking to see what we are going to do," said US President.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for his "unequivocal support".

Biden said he is encouraging Netanyahu to ensure "life-saving capacity to help the Palestinians who are innocent and caught in the middle of this".

In announcing Biden's visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel had agreed to work with the United States on a plan to let aid into Gaza, which has been bombarded for 12 days and under an Israeli blockade for 17 years.

Biden further during the address said he was "proud" to visit Israel.

"I want to say to the people of Israel, their courage, their commitment and their bravery is stunning," Biden said.

Israel has been preparing for a potential ground invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas' attacks on October 7, which killed 1,400 Israelis.

(With agency inputs)