TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden will be making a trip to Israel on Wednesday to show unwavering support for the U.S. ally as concerns grow that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into a broader regional war. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement of Biden’s visit as the humanitarian situation worsens in the Gaza Strip and Israel considers a potential ground attack to eradicate Hamas militants. Both U.S. and Israeli officials have described the recent attacks as the most deadly assault against Jews since the Holocaust. Biden aims to send a strong message that the U.S. stands firmly with Israel. His administration has already promised military support and has sent carriers and aid to the region. Additionally, they plan to request over $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine. Blinken revealed Biden’s travel plans after hours of discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials. This is a breaking news update. Please see below for AP’s earlier story.
In Washington, President Joe Biden had discussions on Monday with three world leaders and his national security team to address the growing global concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and fears that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into a broader regional war. Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the repercussions of Hamas militants’ surprise attacks on Israel, which resulted in 1,400 deaths, and Israel’s retaliatory strikes, which have killed at least 2,778 Palestinians. Biden and Vice President Harris were briefed on the situation in Israel and Gaza by their national security team in the Oval Office earlier on Monday. The briefing was led by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and CIA Director Bill Burns, with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients present. Biden had planned to travel to Pueblo, Colorado, on Monday but postponed the trip to consult with his advisors and engage with fellow leaders regarding the situation in the Middle East. He was scheduled to visit CS Wind, the world’s largest wind tower manufacturing facility. According to a senior administration official, Biden is contemplating a visit to Israel this week as a demonstration of solidarity with the close U.S. ally following the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. However, a final decision on the visit to Israel has not been made yet. At the Egypt-Gaza border, truckloads of aid are being held up, unable to enter the Gaza Strip. Residents and humanitarian organizations are pleading for essentials like water, food, and fuel for the dying generators, as they claim that the Palestinian territory has been completely sealed off by Israel following the recent rampage by Hamas. Biden’s call with the Egyptian leader took place a day after el-Sissi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo. Egyptian state-run media reported that el-Sissi told Blinken that Israel’s Gaza operation has gone beyond the right of self-defense and has turned into collective punishment. European Union leaders will be holding an emergency summit on Tuesday due to concerns that the Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate tensions in Europe and lead to an increased influx of refugees seeking sanctuary. Blinken, who is currently in Israel on his second visit in less than a week, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials on Monday. He shared feedback obtained during his discussions with Arab leaders and reiterated his full support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism. He also expressed the U.S.’s commitment to providing the Israeli government with necessary resources to protect its citizens. Hamas’ assault on Israel resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. According to Israel, at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. This conflict is the deadliest for Israel since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. Speaking on Monday, Iran’s foreign minister warned that “preemptive action is possible” if Israel gets closer to launching a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Iran is a major financial backer of Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The comments made by Hossein Amirabdollahian reflect an escalation in rhetoric coming from Iran. He said that leaders of the resistance will not allow Israel to act with impunity in Gaza and then target other resistance groups after dealing with Gaza. He added that preemptive action could be taken in the coming hours. White House officials have stated that U.S. intelligence indicates that Iran has been generally aware of Hamas’ preparations for a possible strike on Israel. However, they have not found any evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the October 7 attack. Israel is making preparations for the potential opening of a new front on its northern border with Lebanon, where it has previously engaged in armed conflict with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. As a precaution, the military has ordered residents of 28 Israeli communities near the border to evacuate. During Blinken’s visit to Israel on Monday, air raid sirens went off three times, twice while he was meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet to discuss the conflict with Hamas. The sirens indicated incoming rocket fire, and the sound of the Iron Dome air defenses intercepting the rockets underscored the everyday reality for Israelis, especially since Hamas began its massive assault on Israel on October 7. Blinken and his team experienced the warning system and the Iron Dome response as they drove from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, moments after sirens sounded in both cities, causing motorists to pull over and seek shelter. Although the motorcade did not slow down or change its course, it quickly made its way to the Israeli Ministry of Defense while the motorists returned to their vehicles on the side of the road. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who recently visited Israel over the weekend, stated on Monday that he hopes Congress will swiftly provide assistance to Israel. He shared that he met with grieving families and top Israeli officials during his visit and was stirred by anger and fear. Schumer pledged that the United States Senate will do everything within its power in the coming weeks to help Israel eliminate the threat posed by Hamas. He also mentioned that he is working with the administration on an emergency war supplemental that will include military, intelligence, diplomatic, and humanitarian aid. Schumer believes that the Senate has to take the lead in passing this bill because the House is currently in disarray after Republicans ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, leaving the position vacant for two weeks. On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Jacob Lew, the former Treasury Secretary nominated by Biden as ambassador to Israel. Reporting from Tel Aviv, AP writers Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
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