clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

'You are not alone': Biden tells Netanyahu in Israeli war cabinet meeting

October 18, 2023 at 7:56 pm

US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2023 [GPO/ Handout/Anadolu Agency]

US President, Joe Biden, attended an Israeli war cabinet meeting, Wednesday, and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu where he said the US will “continue to have Israel’s back”, Anadolu Agency reports.

You are not alone. Because I emphasised earlier, we will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people

Biden said during the meeting in Tel Aviv.

He added that the US will continue to work with Israel and partners across the region to “prevent more tragedy to innocent civilians.”

Netanyahu, for his part, said this will be a “different kind of war” because Hamas is a “different kind of enemy,” and accused Hamas of maximising civilian casualties while Israel seeks to “minimise civilian casualties.”

Biden’s visit came one day after at least 471 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

Biden said Tuesday that he is “deeply saddened by the explosion” at the hospital which left hundreds dead.

“I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted,” he said in a statement.

After meeting Netanyahu, Biden met first responders and victims’ families. He was asked what made him confident the Israelis were not behind the strike at the hospital.

“The data I was shown by my Defence department,” he said.

Biden was planning to visit Jordan to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian leader, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. But the four-way summit was cancelled after the Israeli strike on the hospital.

READ: Hamas: Over 70% of victims in Gaza are children, women