Biden backs Netanyahu as hospital attack rocks region

The president said he was “Deeply sad and outraged by the explosion in the hospital in Gaza,” adding that “we have to also bear in mind that Hamas does not represent all Palestinian people, and has brought them only suffering.”

Biden reaffirmed his support for Israel, saying “I want to say to the people of Israel: Their courage, their commitment, their bravery, is stunning, it’s really stunning. I’m proud to be here.

“I’m very happy to be back in Israel. Thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to having a thorough discussion of where we go from here,” Biden said.

In remarks before Biden spoke, Netanyahu said “Just as the civilized world united to defeat the Nazis and to defeat ISIS, it must be united to defeat Hamas. The forces of civilization will prevail for our sake, for your sake…and for the sake of peace and security.”

The United States “will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people,” U.S. President Joe Biden told Israel’s war cabinet Wednesday, amid his snap visit to the country on the 12th day of war between Hamas and Israel.

“We will continue to work with you and partners across the region to prevent more tragedy for innocent civilians,” Biden said.

“In the wake of Hamas’s appalling, terrorist assault, brutal, inhumane – almost beyond belief what they did – this cabinet came together and is standing strong, standing united” Biden continued. “And I want you to know you are not alone. You are not alone.”

In remarks that preceded Biden’s, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized unity among members of the recently established war cabinet, saying “This will be a different kind of war because Hamas is a different kind of enemy.”

“While Israel seeks to minimize civilian casualties, Hamas wants to maximize civilian casualties. Hamas wants to kill as many Israelis as possible and has no regard whatsoever for Palestinian lives,” Netanyahu said.

U.S. President Joe Biden touches down in Tel Aviv for a lightning wartime visit

The United States President Joe Biden touched down in Israel’s capital Tel Aviv for lightening wartime visit amid the hospital tragedy that killed over 500 people in Gaza.

President Joe Biden’s blue and white presidential plane, bearing a U.S. flag and presidential seal has landed and is taxiing into Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport.

Biden descended the stairs of his plane and skipped the formalities of a handshake to offer a warm embrace to both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

Biden ahead of his visit to Israel condemned the air strike and said: “I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted. Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and directed my national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened. The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff, and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy.”

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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh reacts to Gaza hospital strike

Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh urged Arab and Islamic nations to express their anger over the attack on a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of people.

Hamas supremo in a recorded speech said people of the Arab and Islamic nations should speak out against the massacre, this savagery, these crimes perpetrated by Israel.

“I call on all the people of the Arab and Islamic nations to go out now condemning this massacre, this brutality, these crimes, go out in all the capitals, in all cities, raise your voices, for this enemy to stop. Let this nation stand as one, in one trench, with different geographies, affiliations, sects, and races, because we are writing history, the next page of glory for our people and nation,” news agency Reuters quoted Haniyeh as saying in his address.