Biden Secures Aid for Gaza, Reportedly Authorizes Israeli Ground Invasion
Facts
- Prior to departing Tel Aviv on Wednesday, US Pres. Joe Biden publicly appealed to Israel, urging it not to be consumed with rage in its response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Comparing Israel's situation to that faced by America in the years after the 9/11 attacks, Biden said that Washington 'sought and got justice,' but also 'made mistakes.'1
- Biden also pleaded with Israel to consider the plight of Palestinian civilians. 'The Palestinian people are suffering greatly as well,' Biden said, 'and we mourn the loss of innocent Palestinian lives like the entire world. The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine and shelter.'1
- As Biden left Israel and returned to Washington on Air Force One, the leader spoke with Egyptian Pres. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. El-Sisi had previously ordered the closure of Egypt's border crossing with Gaza, following three Israeli airstrikes between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10. However, after discussion with Biden, he agreed to reopen the border to allow the flow of humanitarian aid.2
- Biden said that, of roughly 150 trucks of humanitarian aid waiting at the Rafah crossing, the border would open to 20 trucks to begin with. He added that work is also required to restore the roads, meaning aid would not reach aid Gaza before Friday. As Biden departed Israel following hours of talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet on Wednesday, Netanyahu's office released a statement in which it said Israel 'would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt.'3
- Additionally, according to a report in the Times of London, Biden is said to have privately given his backing for an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. The president was quoted telling Netanyahu that the US remained 'fully in support' of Israel’s plans to launch an incursion in order to 'eradicate Hamas.'4
- In the only public comments since Biden's departure, Israel showed no indication of plans to back down. The country's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, told army radio on Wednesday: 'At the end of this war, not only will Hamas no longer be in Gaza, but the territory of Gaza will also decrease.'5
Sources: 1The Guardian (a), 2Associated Press, 3The Guardian (b), 4The Times and 5Washington Examiner.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Guardian. At a time when further violence could erupt in the Middle East, Biden's visit to Israel showed great statesmanship and composure. While standing close to Israel as an ally, Biden reminded the country of its obligations as a democracy and facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Times. Despite his public comments about the necessity of protecting Palestinians, by secretly giving his backing for an Israeli ground invasion, Biden has sold out the innocent civilians living in Gaza who were relying on US diplomacy for protection and ceasefire.
- Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. Though Biden's visit — which drew on US experiences after the 9/11 attacks — has warned Israel not to let rage dictate its response to the Hamas attacks, Washington evidently believes Israel's current military reaction is proportionate. Biden clearly said that 'justice must be done' and has firmly backed Israel's right to go to war against Hamas.
- Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Irrespective of politics, the Gaza Strip is still being bombarded by the Israeli military. As of Thursday, nearly 3.5K had been killed and over 12K were wounded. A further 1.3K remained trapped under the rubble. All of this chaos is occurring under a complete blockade that's lasted 11 days. The most pressing issue now is that the Gaza Strip is in desperate need of humanitarian aid.