President Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, where he held a brief press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During the press conference, both leaders addressed the death toll and the atrocities committed by Hamas, emphasizing the impact on children in Israel.
President Biden also made it clear that Israel was not responsible for a rocket attack on a hospital in Gaza, which tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 500 people. He expressed his outrage at the incident and stated, "I was outraged by the bombing of the hospital yesterday. Based on what Ive seen, it was done by the other team. Not you. But there's a lot of people out there who are not sure."
Biden further emphasized the importance of the world's attention on the situation, stating, "The world is looking. Israel has a value set like the United States does and other democracies, and they're looking to see what we're going to do."
Prime Minister Netanyahu began his remarks by commending President Biden for being the first U.S. president to visit Israel during a wartime. He highlighted the devastating impact of Hamas' actions, stating, "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1400 Israelis, maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. That's 20 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that we live in infamy."
Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support that President Biden and the American people have shown during these challenging times. He acknowledged the significant level of cooperation between the two nations and the support provided to Israel for its defense. He also praised President Biden's moral clarity in distinguishing between the forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism, describing Hamas' actions as sheer evil.
The Israeli prime minister urged President Biden to imagine the fear and panic experienced by Israeli children when Hamas fighters broke into their homes and discovered their hiding spots. He detailed the horrific acts committed by Hamas, including the murder of children in front of their parents, burning people alive, rape, and beheading of soldiers. Netanyahu emphasized the urgency of bringing those responsible to justice and rescuing those who have been kidnapped.
President Biden responded, expressing his disbelief at the atrocities committed by Hamas. He compared their actions to those of ISIS, stating, "They've committed evils that atrocities that make ISIS somewhat more rational."
Following the press conference, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu did not answer any questions and proceeded to a private meeting.
The discussion about the hospital bombing arose after a Hamas-run hospital in Gaza City, which was treating wounded Palestinians and providing shelter, was hit and exploded, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. The cause of the explosion is disputed, with Hamas claiming it was an Israeli airstrike, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attributed it to the Islamic Jihad.
The IDF conducted an investigation into the incident and concluded that a barrage of rockets fired by terrorists in Gaza passed near the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital at the time of the explosion. The IDF stated, "Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza."
As a result of the attack, an international summit that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday was canceled. The summit was set to include President Biden, Jordan's Abdullah, Egypts Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The international community continues to demand answers regarding the cause of the explosion, as attacks on hospitals, schools, and other civilian targets are widely condemned.
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