An airstrike hit a building near Gaza’s Al-Quds hospital on 18 October, a day after an explosion at another hospital in the Strip killed an estimated 500 people
Joe Biden urged Congress on Thursday to approve additional security support for Ukraine and Israel, framing it as necessary to defend democracy worldwide.
“American leadership is what holds the world together,” he said from the Oval Office. “American alliances are what keep us Americans safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with.”
Meanwhile, prior to the speech, eight Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, with clashes reportedly continuing between Israeli forces and gunmen at the Nur Shams refugee camp.
In Gaza, road repair machinery has been moved to the Rafah crossing, in preparation for 20 trucks of aid to be brought from the Egyptian border into Gaza. Following talks with the US, Israel agreed to allow the opening for food and medicine, provided it was not diverted by Hamas for their own use.
Sunak says UK ‘proud’ to stand with Israel in ‘darkest hour’
Rishi Sunak promised Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that Britain would stand by Israel in “its darkest hour” as he welcomed the decision to allow aid into Gaza and said Israel was doing all it could to limit civilian deaths.
“I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas which seeks to put civilians in harm’s way,” Sunak said alongside Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Continuing his statement at a press conference in Israel, Sunak said: “Can I also say that we have seen the scenes over the past day that have shocked all of us, particularly at the hospital and we mourn the loss of every innocent life – civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed.
“And we also recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too.
“And that is why I welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter.”
He added: “I’m proud to stand here with you. In Israel’s darkest hour as your friend. We will stand with you in solidarity. We will stand with your people and we also want you to win.”
(Reuters)
Athena Stavrou19 October 2023 12:21
Rishi Sunak says UK to work with Saudi Arabia for ‘regional stability’ in meeting with MBS
British prime minister Rishi Sunak discussed the middle east crisis amid the Israel-Gaza conflict with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh.
He urged Saudi Arabia to use its influence for regional stability in the middle east and said UK will work with Riyad to prevent a wider conflict.
Mr Sunak insisted that the Hamas terror attack should not become a “catalyst for a terrible humanitarian crisis” in Gaza.
“We will work together to ensure regional stability and prevent a dangerous escalation”, he said in a post on social media.
A readout of talks between the two leaders released by Downing Street said that Mr Sunak had “an important and productive meeting” with Prince Mohammed.
“We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term,” the prime minister said.
His stopover in Saudi Arabia came after his visit to Tel Aviv and meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Britain wanted Israel “to win”, Mr Sunak said in a joint press conference in Jerusalem following talks.
Shweta Sharma20 October 2023 04:05
‘We are scared’: US citizens still stuck in Gaza after Biden visit to Israel
When Joe Biden visited Israel on Wednesday, he had a message for its people: You are not alone.
“As long as the United States stands – and we will stand forever – we will not ever let you be alone,” the president said from Tel Aviv.
Despite nearly two weeks of fighting, intensive negotiations between the US and its partners, and apocalyptic humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory, an estimated 500 to 600 Americans are still trapped in the 88-square-mile enclave, one of the most densely settled places in the world.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 04:00
John Fetterman condemns ‘disturbing rush’ to blame Israel for Gaza hospital attack
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 03:30
Donald Trump attacks Biden’s ‘incompetence and weakness’ ahead of presidential address to the nation
Donald Trump has attacked Joe Biden’s “deadly combination of incompetence, radicalism and weakness” ahead of the president’s address to the nation to discuss the US response to the Hamas “terrorist attacks” against Israel and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
A scathing statement put out by the Trump campaign on Thursday said that Mr Biden was responsible for the “horrific catastrophes” taking place around the world, and said his credibility was “shot”.
The president’s speech comes less than a day after he visited Tel Aviv, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet 10 days after terror attacks by Hamas left more than 1,000 Israelis dead and hundreds of hostages taken captive by the militant group.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 03:00
State Department issues ‘worldwide’ travel warning for Americans
The US State Department has issued a “worldwide” travel advisory, warning Americans to exercise increased caution to avoid becoming victims of possible terror attacks.
“Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the agency warned.
The move came in the wake of Joe Biden’s visit to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the IDF continues its military response in Gaza. On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack that killed approximately 2,000 Israelis. The IDF launched a response attack shortly after that has displaced more than a million Palestinians and killed more than 3,785 Gazans, according to the Gaza health ministry’s data.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 02:05
Biden urges Americans (and Congress) to overcome ‘partisan, angry politics’
Joe Biden had a message on Thursday to Americans, and in particular to Congress: Get your act together.
The president called on leaders and citizens alike to look past partisan politics and get behind giving additional security support to Israel and Ukraine.
“We can’t let petty, partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation,” he said.
It’s hard to ignore the Washington context of these remarks, where the Republican Party has frittered away days trying to select a new House Speaker, despite holding a majority in the lower house.
Here’s Eric Garcia on the latest chaos in the House.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 01:43
Biden warns of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Oval Office address
President Biden spoke out against antisemitism and Islamophobic hate crimes during his Oval Office address on Thursday, urging Americans not to fall into the kind of prejudice the nation witnessed in the years after 9/11 because of the cultural tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.
Mr Biden said hate is “given too much oxygen…right here in America.”
During this portion of the speech, he referenced the killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed 26 times in Plainfield Township on 14 October, days after the Hamas attacks in Israel.
“We scan’t stand by and stand silent when this happens,” Mr Biden added.
Speaking directly to Jews and Muslims in America, he said, “I see you. You belong. You’re all Americans.”
He also urged Israel not to allow itself to become consumed by rage after the historic attacks on civilians it suffered earlier this mont and respect human rights, the laws of war, and religious tolerance.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 01:38
Biden calls to maintain ‘American leadership’ with aid package for Ukraine and Israel
President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was asking Congress to approve an “urgent budget request” including essential defence aid to Ukraine and Israel, casting both countries’ respective wars against Hamas and Russia as part of a struggle against enemies of democracy who will be emboldened if the US withdraws support.
“American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with,” he said in remarks delivered as part of just the second prime-time Oval Office address of his presidency.
“To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, it’s just not worth it,” he said.
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 01:28
Biden calls security aid to Israel and Ukraine a ‘smart investment’
Joe Biden on Thursday issued a strong call for Congress to provide additional security aid that would bolster Ukraine and Israel, as well as refresh American military capabilities.
The president framed the infusion of cash as a way to maintain democracy, American leadership, and the various alliances that have defined global governance since the mid-1900s.
“It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations,” Mr Biden said.
Mr Biden argued in his speech that American leadership underwrites global security and human rights, comparing the wars in Ukraine and Israel to the American Revolution.
“We’re stronger than ever before. America is a beacon to the world, still,” Mr Biden said, quoting Madeleine Albright’s famous phrase that America is “the indispensable nation.”
The president said there were people around the world “who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us.”
Josh Marcus20 October 2023 01:25