Topline
President Joe Biden will visit Israel Wednesday in a show of solidarity for the country ahead of its looming ground offensive into Gaza and follow that with a visit to Jordan where he will meet Arab leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Key Facts
The White House said Biden’s visit to Israel is an effort to “demonstrate his steadfast support” for the country in the face of Hamas’ terror attack last week.
Biden’s visit was announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently in Israel, said the President is coming to express his solidarity and “ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security.
Blinken noted that Biden’s visit will also serve as a warning for other actors in the region—both state and non-state—against taking advantage of the ongoing crisis to attack Israel.
During his visit, Biden will briefed on Israel’s war aims and the measures it’s undertaking to minimize civilian casualties and allow for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza.
After his Israel visit, Biden will travel to Jordan, where he will meet the country’s King Abdullah, Egyptian President Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
In his meeting with the Arab leaders, Biden will “reiterate” that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and aid for civilians in Gaza, the White House said.
Crucial Quote
On Israel’s reticence to allow aid to flow into Gaza despite warnings of a grave humanitarian crisis in the territory, Blinken said: “We share Israel’s concern that Hamas may seize or destroy aid entering Gaza, or otherwise preventing it from reaching the people who need it. If Hamas in any way blocks humanitarian assistance from reaching civilians, including by seizing the aid itself, we’ll be the first to condemn it and we will work to prevent it from happening again.”
News Peg
After Blinken’s announcement from Israel, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Washington had been “crystal clear” about the need to ensure humanitarian aid to Gaza and it has been a “consistent call” by Biden and his administration. Egypt has criticized Israel’s unwillingness to allow aid to flow into Gaza. On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Blinken and raised concern that the citizens of Gaza were receiving “collective punishment” for Hama’s actions.
What To Watch For
U.S. and Israel are coordinating to set up “safe zones” in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the territory, the New York Times reported, citing a senior State Department onboard Blinken’s plane on Tuesday. Former Ambassador David Satterfield, who was appointed as the Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues by Biden on Monday, will discuss the matter with Israeli authorities and the Biden administration is hoping that the aid issue is resolved before Israel begins its ground offensive.
Further Reading
Israel Dismisses Reports Of Ceasefire And Aid After UN Warns Gaza Is Running Out Of Water And Food (Forbes)