Current:Home > reviewsPresident Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday: Sec. Blinken -Keystone Wealth Vision
President Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday: Sec. Blinken
TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-09 20:59:34
President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Monday night.
Blinken made the announcement from Israel, where it was early Tuesday morning, following a lengthy meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Beyond the news of Biden’s impending visit, Blinken also announced the U.S. and Israel will develop a plan "that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza and them alone, including the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm's way," he said.
MORE: 'Extremely difficult': What would be Israel's objectives in an offensive into Gaza?
At his address to the media, Blinken said Biden has a four-part goal.
"First, the president will reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security. President Biden will again make clear, as he's done unequivocally since Hamas’ slaughter of more than 1400 people, including at least 30 Americans, that Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks," Blinken said. "The president will hear from Israel what it needs to defend his people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs."
As he continued, Blinken said the president “will underscore our crystal-clear message to any actor, state or non-state, trying to take advantage of this crisis to attack Israel: Don't. To that end, he's deployed two aircraft carrier groups and other military assets to the region.”
Blinken also said Biden will continue coordinating with Israeli partners on working to get hostages released from Hamas.
Lastly, Secretary Blinken said Biden will be briefed on Israel’s “war aims and strategy.”
The Biden administration has pledged unwavering support to Israel in the wake of the terror attacks inflicted by Hamas. The terrorist group launched an unprecedented incursion on Oct. 7, killing hundreds at a music festival and families inside Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Hamas also took nearly 200 hostages from Israel, including Americans.
President Biden called Hamas’ actions “sheer evil” and quickly bolstered munitions to Israel. Top officials, including Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have been deployed to the region in a show of solidarity.
In recent days, Biden has also expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding for Palestinian civilians, stating while Israel has a right to defend itself it must follow the “rules of war."
In his strongest statements yet on Israel's counteroffensive against Hamas, he cautioned that an Israeli occupation of Gaza would be a "big mistake."
The death toll continues to climb in Gaza, with at least 2,750 people killed and 9,700 more injured. In Israel, at least 1,400 people have died and 3,400 have been injured.
Israel, which cut off electricity to Gaza, told more than a million civilians to flee south as it prepares for a possible ground assault. The evacuation call, rejected by Hamas, prompted panic and forced residents to make difficult decisions on whether to stay or leave.
The crisis presents a diplomatic challenge for the Biden administration.
A senior U.S. official previously told ABC News that if Biden did accept Netanyahu's invitation, it would be to try to "modulate" decision-making inside the Israeli cabinet with a belief in the administration that only Biden can successfully urge restraint.
Blinken has said a new focus is "safe zones" for civilians inside Gaza, as well as negotiating the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Israel and Egypt to allow for the flow of humanitarian assistance.
But as of Monday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said no fuel, food, water or other kinds of aid had entered Gaza.
MORE: How to help victims of the deadly and distructive Israel-Gaza conflict
There are also concerns that the Hamas-Israel war could spread into a wider regional conflict. Fighting has increased tension along the Lebanon-Israel border, where there have been some clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The Pentagon has placed about 2,000 American troops on a heightened state of readiness to possibly be deployed to the Middle East in case they're needed, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News.
-ABC's Martha Raddatz, Luis Martinez and Jolie Lash contributed to this report.
veryGood! (72695)
Related
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Firefighters battle peatland fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra island
- Climber survives 2,000-foot plunge down side of dangerous New Zealand mountain: He is exceptionally lucky to be alive
- Killer Danelo Cavalcante Captured By Police Nearly 2 Weeks After Escaping Pennsylvania Prison
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- South Korean and Polish leaders visit airbase in eastern Poland and discuss defense and energy ties
- Tyler Cameron Reacts to BFF Matt James' Mom Patty Appearing on The Golden Bachelor
- Stock market today: Asian shares slide after tech, rising oil prices drag Wall St lower
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Crowding Out Cougars
Ranking
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Robert Saleh commits to Zach Wilson after Aaron Rodgers injury, says team can still win
- Mauricio Umansky Shares Kyle Richards' Reaction to Him Joining Dancing with the Stars
- Wisconsin Republican leader asks former state Supreme Court justices to review impeachment
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- 'The Morning Show' review: Season 3 gets lost in space, despite terrific Reese Witherspoon
- Colombian migrant father reunites with family after separation at US border
- Zillow Gone Wild coming to HGTV with new show inspired by popular Instagram account
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
New Hampshire secretary of state won’t block Trump from ballot in key presidential primary state
Body cam video shows police administer Narcan to small puppy they say OD'd on fentanyl
Sky-high CEO pay is in focus as workers everywhere are demanding higher wages
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Thailand’s government, seeking return of tourists from China, approves visa-free entry for 5 months
Ineffective ingredient could make Dayquil, Sudafed and others disappear from store shelves
Stock market today: Asian shares slide after tech, rising oil prices drag Wall St lower