1 of 2 Joe Biden during his speech on September 7, 2023 Photo: Elizabeth Frantz/Portal Joe Biden during his speech on September 7, 2023 Photo: Elizabeth Frantz/Portal
US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday (18), Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said. The announcement came after a conversation between the American president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the minister, Biden will personally meet with Netanyahu during the trip to reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel.
Blinken also announced that the two countries have agreed to develop a plan to allow aid to reach civilians in the Gaza Strip.
“We share Israel’s concerns that Hamas may seize or destroy aid entering the Gaza Strip or otherwise prevent it from reaching the people who need it,” he said.
According to the US Secretary of State, Biden will coordinate efforts with Israel to free hostages held by Hamas.
After his visit to Israel, Biden will travel to Jordan where he will meet:
- the King of Jordan, Abdullah II;
- the President of Egypt, Abdul Fatah Khalil AlSisi;
- the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
2 of 2 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Wednesday (12). Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Portal US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Wednesday (12). — Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Portal
Blinken is in Tel Aviv, where he is closely following the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The announcement of Biden’s visit to the country was made in the early hours of Tuesday (17), local time.
Shortly after the Secretary of State’s announcement, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden would be kept updated on the progress of Israel’s military operations.
According to Kirby, Biden will speak in Israel about the needs of the country’s armed forces in addition to humanitarian aid. The United States wants to ensure that aid reaches civilians in Gaza and not Hamas.
In an interview shown on American television on Sunday (15), Biden stated that Hamas must be eliminated, but said that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip.
“What happened in Gaza is, in my opinion [culpa do] Hamas and the extremist elements of Hamas who do not represent the Palestinian people,” he said.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas
Israel’s borders explained on maps
▶️ How did the conflict begin? The confrontation started after that The terrorist group Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7th.
- Armed men from the south of the country invaded Israeli territory by land, air and sea, on motorcycles and paragliders.
- There were reports that the invaders shot people in the streets and kidnapped dozens of Israelis (including women and children) and took them to Gaza as hostages.
▶️ What was Israel’s reaction? Faced with the Hamas offensive, the Israeli government began retaliatory measures.
- “We are at war and we will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said shortly after the attack. “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known.”
- Also on October 7, Israel launched bombing raids on the Gaza Strip.
▶️ What is and where is the Gaza Strip? It is the Palestinian territory located on a narrow piece of land on the western coast of Israel, on the border with Egypt.
- The city, which is characterized by poverty and overpopulation, has 2 million inhabitants who live in an area of 360 km².
- To get an idea of this size compared to Brazilian cities: the territory is slightly larger than that of the city of Fortaleza (312.4 km²) and smaller than that of Curitiba (434.8 km²).
- Gaza was captured by Israel in the SixDay War in 1967 and handed over to the Palestinians in 2005. Gaza is currently experiencing a blockade of goods and services imposed by its border neighbors.
▶️ What is the history of conflict in the region? The dispute between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades and has resulted in numerous armed clashes and deaths.
- In its modern form, it dates back to 1947, when the United Nations (UN) proposed the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, in Palestine under a British mandate.