Biden Meets Israeli PM, Asks Netanyahu To Provide Humanitarian Aid To Civilians Hit In Gaza Hospital Attack

“I want you to know you’re not alone. We will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people,” Biden said.

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Tel Aviv, Israel. ( Image Source :Getty )

New Delhi: President Joe Biden, who is on a solidarity visit to Israel, pledged US support for Israel in a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an expanded bilateral meeting in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, saying, "We will continue to have Israel's back as you work to defend your people.”

“I want you to know you’re not alone. We will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people,” Biden said. “We’ll continue to work with you and partners across the region to prevent more tragedy to innocent civilians.”

I have come to Israel with a simple message:

You are not alone.

As long as the United States stands – and we will stand forever – you will not be alone.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023

In remarks from Tel Aviv where the president had gone to show support for Israel following a brutal and deadly October 7 terrorist attack that killed roughly 1,400 people, Biden cautioned the nation against all-consuming rage.

"I caution this while you feel that rage, don't be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice we also made mistakes," Joe Biden said.

Biden said that Israel had agreed to allow humanitarian assistance to begin flowing into Gaza from Egypt with the understanding it would be subject to inspections and that it should go to civilians and not Hamas militants.

"The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter. Today, I asked the Israeli cabinet to agree to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza...and the aid should go to civilians, not to Hamas. Israel agreed that the humanitarian assistance can begin to move from Egypt to Gaza. If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance it will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people..and it will stop the international community from being able to provide this aid," Biden said.

#WATCH | Tel Aviv, Israel: US President Joe Biden says, "The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter. Today, I asked the Israeli cabinet to agree to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza...and the aid should go to civilians, not to… pic.twitter.com/c3dfRcydaT

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2023

Biden also said an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance would be delivered to Gaza and the West Bank. 

I just announced $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

This money will support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians.

And we will have mechanisms in place so this aid reaches those in need – not Hamas or terrorist groups.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023

On the deadly explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital that killed over 500 Palestinians, Biden backed the ally's account that Palestinian militants caused the blast, adding Hamas had brought "only suffering."

“Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you,” he told Netanyahu.

Biden had also been scheduled to visit Jordan to meet with Arab leaders on Wednesday, but the summit was called off after the hospital explosion.

He told Netanyahu he was “deeply saddened and outraged” by the hospital explosion. But he also stressed that “Hamas does not represent all the Palestinian people, and it has brought them only suffering.” And he spoke of the need to find ways of “encouraging life-saving capacity to help the Palestinians who are innocent, caught in the middle of this.”