In the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict, US President Joe Biden found himself clarifying a statement he made during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden had initially suggested that the tragic explosion at a Gaza hospital might have been carried out by an “other team,” seemingly alluding to Palestinian militants. However, he now points to data provided by the US Department of Defense as the basis for his comment.
The hospital strike in Gaza had drawn international attention and condemnation, with Hamas reporting that hundreds of people lost their lives in the explosion. In a meeting with Netanyahu, Biden expressed his deep sadness and outrage at the incident.
“Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you,” President Biden told Netanyahu, making reference to the Palestinian militants. However, he acknowledged that there was uncertainty surrounding the exact cause of the blast, stating that “there are a lot of people out there” who weren’t sure what led to the devastating explosion.
Biden’s clarification comes in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, where tensions and hostilities between the two parties have escalated, leading to significant loss of life and widespread destruction.
The US president also took a moment to address the gravity of the situation, comparing Hamas to the Islamic State (ISIS). He emphasized the severity of the conflict, particularly highlighting the death of 31 Americans among the over 1,300 Israelis killed in Hamas’ attack. “Hamas is worse than Islamic State for its killings of Israeli civilians in a surprise attack on October 7,” Biden said. He expressed deep anguish over the impact of the conflict on civilians and noted that Hamas does not represent all the Palestinian people but has brought suffering to them.
Biden’s visit to Israel during this tumultuous period underscores his commitment to standing with the people of Israel and advocating for their right to defend themselves. “I wanted to be here today for a simple reason: I want the people of Israel and the people of the world to know where the United States stands,” Biden stated. He reassured Israel of America’s support, emphasizing that Israel must have what it needs to protect itself in the face of ongoing attacks.
Israel, on the other hand, has presented evidence to support its claim that a rocket fired by Palestinian militants misfired, causing the large explosion at the hospital. They cited radar data and independent video footage as proof that this was not an airstrike. Israel also released an audio recording purportedly between two Hamas militants who discussed the explosion, suggesting it may have been an Islamic Jihad misfire. However, Islamic Jihad disputed Israel’s claims and pointed to Israel’s prior evacuation order for the hospital as a factor.
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