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President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that the United States would collaborate with Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to make every effort to protect civilians.
“We will continue to support you. As you work to protect your people, we will work alongside you and regional partners to prevent further tragedies for innocent civilians,” Biden declared after a meeting with Netanyahu’s war cabinet in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu reiterated his accusation that Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and launched a deadly attack inside Israel on October 7, intentionally places civilians near targets in the hope of using them as human shields.
However, Netanyahu assured Biden, saying, “As we proceed in this conflict, Israel will do everything in its power to keep civilians out of harm’s way. We have asked them, and we will continue to urge them to relocate to safer areas. We will maintain our collaboration with you, Mr. President, to ensure that the minimum requirements are met,” Netanyahu stated.
Biden is in Israel for a solidarity visit following the deadly Hamas attack, which led to an Israeli air campaign and the threat of a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.
On the eve of his visit, a strike on a hospital in Gaza resulted in the deaths of between 200 and 300 people, according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. They attributed the strike to Israel, causing anger throughout the Arab world.
Israel contended that Islamic Jihad militants misfired a missile, a view supported by Biden.
Netanyahu commented on the hospital strike, saying, “The entire world was rightfully outraged, but this outrage should be directed not at Israel but at the terrorists.”
