President Joe Biden will make a landmark trip to Israel Wednesday, a show of “ironclad” support as Washington tries to prevent the escalating war in Gaza from spilling over into regional conflict.
The trip comes just days after Gaza-based Hamas fighters broke through Israel’s heavily fortified border, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.
Shell-shocked Israel has responded with withering air strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza and by deploying tens of thousands of troops to the border in preparation for a full-scale ground offensive.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden’s visit would be a statement of “solidarity with Israel” and an “ironclad commitment to its security”.
Washington has already sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel.”
Iran on Monday warned of a possible “pre-emptive action” against Israel “in the coming hours” and has repeatedly warned against a ground invasion of Gaza.
“The resistance leaders” will not allow Israel “to do whatever it wants in Gaza” said Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
On Tuesday, Israel said its troops had killed four militants attempting to infiltrate from Lebanon and launched strikes on Hezbollah “terrorist” targets in the country.
While signalling support, Biden will also try to quietly steer Israeli’s military response, as critism grows about the devastating impact of the war on Palestinian civilians.
Israeli air strikes have killed several senior Hamas figures and targeted the organisation’s headquarters, according to the military.
But at least 2,750 Palestinians — mostly civilians — have also been killed, entire neighbourhoods have been razed and survivors are left with dwindling supplies of food, water and fuel.
Israel has demanded that residents of north Gaza leave for the south, hoping to clear the area of civilians in preparation for a perilous urban ground assault.
An Israeli military spokesman said it was unclear how Biden’s visit might change the timing of that operation.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, says more than one million Palestinians have fled their homes since the conflict began 10 days ago.
