President Joe Biden arrived in Israel amidst escalating tensions, following an explosion at a Gaza hospital that has left at least 500 people feared dead. The hospital, which was sheltering hundreds of Gaza civilians, was struck by a missile. Biden is set to engage in a candid discussion with the Israeli Prime Minister, condemning the loss of lives in the hospital attack. The global community has united in condemning this missile strike on the hospital, although Israel and Hamas continue to trade blame for the incident. Biden’s planned meeting with the Palestinian President in Jordan was canceled in the wake of the hospital attack.
When the American government announced that their national security team would investigate the cause of the Gaza explosion on Tuesday night, many anticipated a thorough inquiry.
However, it seems that President Joe Biden has already reached a conclusion about who is responsible for the deadly attack, expressing his belief that the blame lies with the “other team.”
Biden did convey his deep outrage at the tragic incident.
This visit represents a significant demonstration of support for Israel. By suggesting that a misfired rocket caused the hospital tragedy, Biden has effectively signaled his approval for Israel to take action as it deems necessary.
Biden’s comparison of Hamas to ISIL (Islamic State) was a questionable choice of words for the President. Implying that ISIL was more rational was an unwise statement. If this remark had been made by Donald Trump, it likely would have triggered days of outrage.
Earlier, we shared the testimony of surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta, who was present at al-Ahli Arab Hospital during the Tuesday evening attack. He has now posted a new comment on Facebook:
“We now have confirmation that the number of casualties exceeds 500. This figure is expected to rise, as I personally witnessed many dismembered bodies and body parts as I transported the last patient through the courtyard.
“This was a highly publicized atrocity. It was a premeditated massacre. The Israeli government openly stated its intention to target hospitals for the past week, while the world watched without taking action.
“The majority of the victims are children, exceeding 50 percent. I encountered the lifeless body of a toddler who was missing their head… and this morning, the bombings continued.”
Biden, in his discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, implied that the al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing appeared to be the work of the “other team” rather than Israel. Biden did not present any evidence to support this assessment.