US President Joe Biden who landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, has backed Israel’s strong denial regarding the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital blast, which claimed the lives of almost 500 people. The Israeli Defence Force showed a video clip proving that a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket, which was fired from a cemetery, hit the hospital car park. According to Biden, the explosion appeared to have been caused by Hamas.
However, Hamas maintained the explosion was caused by Israel. As a result, Arab leaders canceled their meeting with Joe Biden. Following Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group’s call for a “day of rage,” protests from around the world including Turkey, Morrocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon have been directed against Israel with many demanding a ceasefire.
Despite the widespread outrage, Egypt’s President, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is still reluctant to take in Gaza’s 2.3m residents into Egypt’s Sinai desert. He reckoned that if this were to happen, the Palestinians could “liquidate” their chances of statehood and Egyptians may turn up in their numbers to protest against it. He was also concerned that the move may put a strain on its economy and threaten the peace in the Sinai region. He suggested that since Gaza was ruled by Israel, they should be moved to the Negev desert.
Biden urges any state or “hostile actor” considering an attack on Israel with a firm “don’t, don’t, don’t.” He stated that an assault on Israel would be the equivalent of 15 9/11s.
The US is set to give $100 million in aid to Israel and Gaza. Biden mentioned his collaboration with regional partners, like Egypt, to facilitate the inflow of aid to the Palestinian people who are in dire need of food, water, shelter, and medicine.
