The US president Joe Biden travels this week to Israel and Jordan on a mission charged with high stakes. He is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reinforcing Washington’s steadfast support for Israel in the wake of the October 7 attacks that left more than 1,400 people dead and about 250 taken hostage. The president will also hold discussions with King Abdullah II in Amman, as well as with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, aiming to slow a looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prevent the conflict from widening into a regional war.
On Wednesday, the president stated his plan to travel to Israel to show solidarity against Hamas and its brutal assault. He would then proceed to Jordan to address urgent humanitarian needs, meet leaders, and reiterate that Hamas does not speak for Palestinian self-determination. —Statement released by the president’s office in October 2023.
The Israeli foreign minister announced the Israel visit after a lengthy meeting with Netanyahu, during which an invitation to Biden was extended. The top diplomat signaled that while humanitarian aid commitments were on the table, much work remained. Public remarks from the foreign minister noted that efforts will focus on delivering aid to Gaza and exploring ideas for safe zones in the Strip that would be theoretically shielded from Israeli strikes.
Scraping time before the raid
Following Biden’s travels, there have already been multiple high-level visits to Israel by senior U.S. officials, including Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, with a broader diplomatic push underway. The main question remains whether a military campaign against Gaza is imminent. Netanyahu has pledged to curb Hamas, yet a military spokesperson cautioned that timing depends on many variables. Whether Biden’s trip will influence the decision remains to be seen.
Addressing potential obstacles is a priority, including the opening of a corridor at the Rafah border crossing to allow humanitarian aid to move from Egypt into Gaza. This route could provide a safe exit for residents and help Americans still inside the territory, as explained by a national security spokesperson.
Biden’s objective also includes avoiding the emergence of a new front with Hezbollah in Lebanon and preventing a broader regional expansion of the conflict.
Military support
In the first week after the Hamas attacks, Biden publicly backed Israel’s right to defend itself. The United States dispatched two aircraft carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean and mobilized a rapid-response force of roughly 2,000 Marines and Navy personnel. The aim is to assist in evacuations and support Israeli operations without engaging in combat missions directly.
While stressing international humanitarian law, Biden emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself. He did not publicly urge restraint on siege measures or endorse any immediate halt to military actions. The ongoing blockade, water, energy, and food shortages in Gaza have resulted in thousands of casualties, including many children, and numerous injuries. As the administration’s messaging evolves, it is acknowledged that most Palestinians do not back Hamas and that the group does not represent Palestinian self-determination. Within the Democratic Party, the conflict narrative is shifting, and public demonstrations around the world reflect a broader reassessment of the crisis.
In an interview on a major news program, Biden warned that a new Israeli invasion of Gaza would carry grave risks, even as Israel indicated it did not plan to invade imminently. He also stressed the need for a political path that includes Palestinian governance and a route toward statehood for the Palestinian people, as part of a long-term resolution to the conflict.