WASHINGTON — President Biden announced Wednesday in Israel that the US government would give $100 million to support Palestinians — while also sharing plans to ask Congress for an “unprecedented” aid package for the Jewish state’s military as it prepares to invade Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The 80-year-old president visited Israel in a show of support following the terrorist group’s murder of more than 1,400 people and abduction of about 200 others in southern Israel on Oct 7.
At least 30 US citizens were killed and an unknown number are held as hostages.
“Israel must again be a safe place for the Jewish people. And I promise you we will do everything in our power to make sure that it will be,” Biden said in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and saying “the other team” caused a Tuesday hospital explosion in Gaza that forced the cancelation of planned meetings with Arab leaders in Jordan.
“For decades, we’ve ensured Israel’s qualitative military edge. Later this week, I’m going to ask the United States Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israel’s defense,” the president added.
Biden told the press that he had insisted that Israel release humanitarian aid to Gazans as food and supplies run low — warning Israel not to make “mistakes” like the US did during its foreign wars after 9/11.
“You can’t look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers, your grandparents, sons, daughters, children, even babies and not scream out for justice. Justice must be done,” Biden said.
“But I caution this: While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”
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Biden then announced “$100 million of new US funding for humanitarian assistance in both Gaza and the West Bank. This money will support more than one million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza.”
The president did not specify how the US aid to the Palestinian territories would be administered and the White House did not immediately provide additional details.
The Palestinian government is divided in two, with Hamas ruling Gaza since 2007 after winning 2006 legislative elections.
The Fatah faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization nominally controls West Bank areas not directly administered by Israel.
Fatah is led by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is in the 18th year of a four-year term that was supposed to end in 2009.
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 1,400 Israelis are dead, more than 4,200 are wounded and at least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured.
“I come to Israel with a single message: You’re not alone. You are not alone. As long as the United States stands, and we will stand forever, we will not let you ever be alone,” Biden said during his remarks.
“We’re working with partners throughout the region, pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captive by Hamas. I can’t speak publicly about all the details, but let me assure you: For me as the American president, there’s no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages.”
Hamas has threatened to murder hostages on camera in response to Israel’s offensive into Gaza.
“The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people,” Biden said.
“We mourn the loss of innocent Palestinian lives like the entire world. I was outraged and saddened by the enormous loss of life yesterday in a hospital in Gaza. Based on the information we have seen today, it appears a result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza.”
Biden added that he had persuaded Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which has about 2 million residents. Egypt, which also borders the territory, says it will only allow dual citizens from Gaza to flee the conflict.
“The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter,” Biden said.
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“Today, I asked the Israeli cabinet I met with for some time this morning to agree to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, based on the understanding that there will be inspections and that the aid should go to civilians, not to Hamas. Israel agreed the humanitarian assistance can begin to move from Egypt to Gaza. Let me be clear: if Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, it will have demonstrated once again it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people and it will end.”