Washington - U.S. President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel on Wednesday amid increasing tensions between Israel and Hamas militants. This visit comes as Israel intensifies its offensive against Hamas, sparking a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and raising concerns about a potential conflict with Iran.
Biden's visit serves as a significant demonstration of U.S. support for its key Middle East ally, as Hamas has caused devastation by killing 1,300 individuals in a deadly rampage through Israeli towns. Israel has responded by implementing a stricter blockade on Gaza, limiting fuel entry, and launching air strikes that have resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced Biden's visit and emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to Israel's security. During the visit, Biden will meet with Netanyahu, receive a detailed briefing on Israel's objectives and strategies in the conflict, and express Washington's support.
Blinken also revealed that he and Netanyahu had agreed on developing a plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians, although he did not provide specific details. Following his visit to Israel, Biden is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Gaza authorities report that over 2,800 individuals have been killed by Israeli attacks, with a quarter of them being children. Additionally, more than 10,000 wounded individuals are being treated in hospitals that are facing severe supply shortages. Israeli officials claim that Hamas also captured 199 individuals, including Israelis, planning to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In a video released by Hamas, a captive French-Israeli woman named Mia Schem appealed to be returned to her family as soon as possible, receiving treatment for her injured arm from an unidentified medical worker.