Biden is making this historic war-time visit to Israel at a time when there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, threats of a wider war with Iran, and a tense hostage negotiation between Hamas and Israel. This is a pivotal moment for Biden and his administration as he navigates extraordinarily complex waters.
Biden's wartime visit to Israel is a demonstration of a key ally coming to stand in solidarity with the country following Hamas' brutal assault on Oct. 7. Biden will reaffirm Washington’s commitment to the security of the Jewish state, and is expected to declare that Israel has an "obligation" to defend itself and act to prevent future attacks, meaning Israel will have a relatively free hand as far as the US is concerned.
What Israel has done to the Palestinian people in Gaza is nothing short of collective punishment that violates international law. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and who knows how many more are filling the halls of already undersupplied hospitals. Western countries need to immediately facilitate the lifting of the blockade — Biden and Blinken are clearly concerned and aware of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe.