The American president Joe Biden is in the Middle East: a journey that couldn't have started worse after the brutal and criminal bombing of Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, with return of accusations between Hamas and the Israeli army for responsibility. For the American president, the attack does not seem to be the fault of Israel but of "the other side" and he asked his advisors to "continue to gather information on what exactly happened". What is certain are the deaths which number in the hundreds (at least 500 and 300 injured). And the protests are spreading across the West Bank and Tunis, while clashes on the border between Lebanon and Israel are becoming increasingly violent. The summit in Amman, Jordan, scheduled for today with Biden, the Jordanian King Abdallah II, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and above all the leader of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas is skipped.
Biden: “Hamas does not represent all Palestinians”
Biden walks a balance between support a Israel e moderation. “America is mourning with you and she is mourning with you,” the American president said at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Israel will have what it needs to defend itself” from Hamas militiamen who “have committed atrocities that make ISIS seem perhaps more reasonable. “Hamas massacred over 1300 people, including 31 Americans. They took many hostages, including children. Imagine these children who were hiding from terrorists, what they went through is far beyond my ability to understand." Then moderation: "We must keep in mind that Hamas does not represent all the Palestinian people."
Biden on hospital bombed in Gaza: “Outraged and saddened”
Regarding the hospital bombed in Gaza, Biden said he was "indignant and deeply saddened" by the numerous innocent victims. And on the responsibility of the horrific attack he said: “Based on what I saw it looks like it was on the other side, but there are a lot of people out there who aren't sure.” A tough political challenge for Biden who has decided to enter the field personally to avoid the storm and straighten out the course.
Netanyahu: “US support is a clear message to enemies”
“October 7 in proportion is like 20 times September 11,” said the Israeli prime minister. “We saw your support every day. A clear message to our enemies. The world saw it clearly.” He then added: “Just as the world united to defeat Nazism and united to defeat ISIS, we must be united to defeat Hamas. Israel is united to defeat Hamas."