Biden lands in Israel
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, beginning a visit to show solidarity and confer on the spiralling Gaza war, Reuters reports.
Descending from the plane amid a large security contingent, Biden embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog on the tarmac.
"Welcome, Mr. President. God bless you for protecting the nation of Israel," Herzog's office quoted him as telling Biden.
Despite the fact that a hospital in Gaza was hit by a rocket in an attack that resulted in hundreds of victims on the night of Tuesday into Wednesday, Joe Biden nevertheless kept his visit, organized under high security conditions, on the agenda. because he wants to ask Israel "tough questions" during his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Stepping off the plane amid a heavy security contingent, Biden hugged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog on the tarmac. They talked a little before leaving in a convoy.
Although the detailed schedule of the visit has not been disclosed for security reasons, it is known that Biden is scheduled to speak in Tel Aviv and is to meet with families of hostages held by Hamas. The US, which lost at least 31 of its citizens in the deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist group on October 7, is aware of a small number of hostages who hold US passports.
