The White House announced on Monday evening that President Joe Biden will be traveling to Israel this week as the country prepares for a ground operation in Gaza.
The visit from Biden comes after the administration deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region last week to join the USS Ford strike carrier group that is already positioned there.
The administration’s beefed up military presence in the region — which also includes sending fighter jets from the Air Force and a rapid response force of 2,000 Marines — comes after Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,400 Israelis and wounded 3,000+ more in terror attacks a little over a week ago.
Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to “demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack and to consult on next steps,” the White House said in a statement.
“President Biden will then travel to Amman, Jordan, where he will meet with his Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas,” the statement continued. “He will reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination and discuss the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza.”
A large reason for the trip is to hopefully prevent war from spreading in the Middle East as there are fears that Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon, could launch attacks from the north.
On Wednesday, I'll travel to Israel to stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack.
I'll then travel to Jordan to address dire humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for Palestinians' right to self-determination.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2023