Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday. Biden is traveling to Israel following the deadly terrorist attacks on the country by the terrorist group Hamas, which is occupying the Gaza Strip.
Biden will travel to Tel Aviv to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials ahead of an anticipated Israeli incursion in force into the heavily populated Gaza City.
The attacks by land, sea, and air have killed at least thirty Americans. Thirteen Americans remain unaccounted for. The White House has said that some Americans are being held hostage. More than 1,300 Israelis were killed and over 2,800 were wounded. At least 150 are believed to be prisoners of Hamas.
Biden will discuss issues including American citizens and others unable to leave Gaza, information about the hostages held by Hamas, civilian causalities, and providing humanitarian assistance.
Biden will then travel from Tel Aviv to Amman, Jordan on Wednesday to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Biden Administration has expressed concerns that the coming Israeli offensive combined with the blockade could result in excessive civilian casualties for the Palestinian people.
Israel has called for 1 million people in Gaza to evacuate to its southern end.
U.S. officials said on Sunday that they have been trying to assist Americans looking to leave the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, but to this point, none of the Americans have been able to get out.
Republicans, including U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), claim that Biden has been silent about the role they believe that Iran has played in financing Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups.
“When Joe Biden took office, Iran was broke,” Tuberville said on the social media site X. “Now, Iran is sitting on billions and bankrolling terrorists. @JoeBiden’s policies have emboldened and funded our enemies.”
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) also agreed with Tuberville.
“I stand with the people of Israel in the face of the cold-blooded assault that Iran-backed Hamas terrorists have launched on their home,” Rep. Rogers said in a statement. “Israel has a steadfast right to defend itself against attacks on its people, and this barbaric attack will not go unanswered. The U.S. will continue to support our ally through robust security assistance which Israel utilizes in its self-defense. Israel remains the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East – our prayers are with the people of Israel.”
Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Biden and Blinken have been heavily criticized for their recent allowing of $6 billion in illicit oil sales money go to Iran to facilitate a prisoner exchange involving five American citizens unjustly imprisoned by the Iranian Regime.
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