“Non-threatening” meant
US President Biden wants to ask Israel “hard questions”.
October 18, 2023, 3:32 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
The devastating rocket strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip sparks outrage and dismay among US President Biden. He is currently on his way to Israel. As a “true friend” of the country, he also hopes that Tel Aviv will provide answers to uncomfortable questions.
During his visit to Tel Aviv in the middle of the Middle East crisis, US President Joe Biden also wants to ask the Israeli government “hard questions”. US government National Security Council communications director John Kirby said on the flight to Tel Aviv that Biden wanted to get a feel from the Israelis about the situation on the ground, hear more about their goals and plans in the coming days and weeks, ” and he’s going to ask them some tough questions.” Kirby emphasized that Biden would ask the questions “as a true friend of Israel.”
When asked, Kirby explained: “I don’t mean that in a threatening or hostile way, but simply tough questions that a good friend of Israel would ask to find out where they think they are, where they think they want to go, what their plans are for the future – all in the spirit of a true, close friend of Israel.” Biden does not want the conflict to expand or deepen. The US President will also address the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Kirby also emphasized again that it was about hearing what further support Israel needs.
Biden had previously reacted with dismay to the devastating rocket strike in a hospital in the Gaza Strip. Biden said in a written statement released by the White House that he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by the hospital explosion and the terrible loss of life it caused. Immediately after the incident became known, he spoke to Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and instructed his team to collect further information about what happened.
“The United States is unequivocally committed to protecting civilians during conflict, and we mourn the patients, medical personnel and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy,” it said. Biden left for Israel on Tuesday, where he is expected to make a short visit on Wednesday. The US President had originally wanted to travel on to Jordan to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s head of state Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Wednesday. However, after the rocket hit the hospital, the meeting in Jordan was canceled at short notice.