Joe Biden Will Travel To Israel “As Early As October 18”

The US President will travel to Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated this on the evening of October 16, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The head of the White House is expected to arrive in the Jewish state on Wednesday, October 18.

He is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian National Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Blinken said Biden’s goals are to show solidarity with Israel, while at the same time sending a message to Iran and Hezbollah that “no one should use the crisis to attack.” The US President also intends to try to keep civilian casualties to a minimum and therefore figure out how to send aid to Gaza without benefiting Hamas.

The latter point was confirmed by Blinken, who said he agreed with Netanyahu on the need to “develop a plan that will allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance from donor countries and multilateral organizations only to the civilian population of Gaza – and only to them.” The Secretary of State also stressed the importance of getting aid to Gaza as quickly as possible.

Just hours ago, Biden said that “occupying Gaza would be a big mistake.” This step was perceived as the first real attempt by the USA to slow down Israel after the outbreak of hostilities by Hamas and the subsequent “siege of Gaza.”