It is not the White House’s habit to improvise presidential trips abroad. Even less so in a war zone. However, this is what Joe Biden decided, following the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7, during which nearly 1,400 people were killed.
On Wednesday October 18, the American president will make a lightning visit to this country still subject to Hamas rockets and on the verge of launching a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip, after an intensive bombing campaign which has cost the lives of more than 2,800 Palestinians.
In addition to the exceptional security risks inherent in such a trip, which will give a cold sweat to the secret services responsible for its protection, Joe Biden is committing American credibility in a major crisis, likely to become a regional conflict. Its objective is twofold: to dissuade Israel’s other enemies – Iran and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah – from intervening and to alleviate some of the suffering of civilians in Gaza, by obtaining the delivery of humanitarian aid within the enclave.
The White House confirmed this visit to Israel, but also to Jordan, on Monday evening. In Tel Aviv, the American president plans to collect the latest information on “strategy and rhythm” Israeli military operations, said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council. A bilateral meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is notably planned.
Joe Biden also plans to discuss the status of the hostages in the hands of Hamas, as well as the fate of “several hundred Americans” dual nationals currently unable to leave the Gaza Strip. “We do not dictate the terms or operational directions to the Israelis”explained the official, refusing to say formally if the start of the ground operation was postponed until the departure of the President of the United States.
After Tel Aviv, a mini-summit in Jordan
The same day, Joe Biden will travel to Jordan, where he will meet King Abdullah II, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The main topic of this mini-summit is expected to be the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
In his remarks, John Kirby implicitly confirmed the shift observed among American officials since the weekend, with greater attention, under pressure from Arab leaders, to the fate of Gazan civilians. “We don’t want to see additional civilian suffering”said Mr. Kirby, who again mentioned international humanitarian law as it applies in a conflict. “Innocent civilians are innocent civilians, he added, and no matter what side of the line they live on, what their name is or how they pray, they do not deserve to be victims of armed conflict. As I said before, the appropriate number of civilian casualties is zero. »
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