President Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, where he held a brief press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During their statements, both leaders emphasized the high death toll, condemned the actions of Hamas, and discussed the impact on children in Israel. Additionally, President Biden absolved Israel of responsibility for the rocket attack on a Gaza hospital, which resulted in the tragic loss of at least 500 lives.
“I was outraged by the bombing of the hospital yesterday. Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by the other team. Not you,” Biden said to Netanyahu. “But there’s a lot of people out there who are not sure.”
Biden added: “The world is looking. Israel has a value set like the United States does and other democracies and they’re looking to see what we’re going to do.”
Netanyahu took the initiative in the press conference, commending President Biden for becoming the first U.S. president to visit Israel during a period of conflict.
“On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1400 Israelis, maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. That’s 20 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that we live in infamy,” he said.
Netanyahu continued: “I want to thank you for coming here today and for the unequivocal support you’ve given during these trying times. A support that reflects the overwhelming will of the American people. I’ve seen your support every day and the depth and breadth of cooperation that we have had since the beginning of this war, a level of cooperation that is truly unprecedented in the history of the great alliance between our two nations.”
He added: “We see that support and your steadfast commitment to provide Israel with the tools we need to defend ourselves. We see that support and the clear message you send our enemies not to test our resolve. And in the two American carrier battle groups that you send to the region. To back up those words with action.”
“Above all, Mr. President, the world sees that support and the moral clarity that you have demonstrated from the moment Israel was attacked. You’ve rightly drawn a clear line between the forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism,” Netanyahu said. “You describe what Hamas did as sheer evil. It is exactly that.”
The Israeli prime minister also implored the president to consider the perspective of Israeli children when Hamas fighters entered their homes and discovered their hiding places.
“Hamas murdered children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children. They burned people alive. They raped and murdered women. They beheaded soldiers that they search for the secret hiding places where parents had their children,” he said. “And just imagine, Mr. President, the fear and the panic of those little children in their last moments as the monsters discovered find out their hiding places. Hamas kidnapped women, children, elderly, Holocaust survivors. I know you share outrage on this and I know you share our determination to bring these people back.”
Biden responded. “It’s beyond my comprehension.” He also said Hamas was guilty of slaughtering Israelis: “They’ve committed evils that atrocities that make ISIS somewhat more rational.”
The two leaders departed from the press conference without fielding any questions. President Biden is scheduled to have a private meeting with Israeli officials.
President Biden’s remarks regarding the hospital incident came in response to the tragic explosion of a Hamas-run hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives.
The cause of the explosion is a matter of dispute, with Hamas attributing it to an Israeli airstrike, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have placed the blame on the Islamic Jihad.
