President Biden Embarks on Tense Diplomatic Mission to Israel Amid Middle East Crisis

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President Joe Biden is set to arrive in Israel on Wednesday, aiming to defuse the escalating conflict with Hamas and prevent it from developing into an even more extensive confrontation. His task has been made increasingly complicated by the widespread indignation throughout the Middle East following an explosion that resulted in hundreds of casualties at a hospital in the Gaza Strip.

Initially, Biden was slated to also visit Jordan, but these plans were abandoned as he departed Washington, causing him to lose the chance for invaluable in-person discussions with Arab leaders, which he considers pivotal for managing this delicate juncture.

For this trip, Israel will be Biden’s sole destination. He is scheduled to convene with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has been contemplating a possible ground invasion of Gaza, in retaliation for Hamas’ attacks on October 7 that left 1,400 Israelis dead.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Spokesman, stated to reporters on Air Force One that Biden is keen to gain insights from the Israelis about the “situation on the ground” and will not shy away from posing “difficult questions.”

In addition to talks with Netanyahu, the President is scheduled to meet with Israeli first responders and relatives of those who have been killed or held hostage during Hamas’ foray into Israeli territory.

Before the hospital explosion, approximately 2,800 Palestinians had been reported killed due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Another estimated 1,200 individuals are either alive or dead under debris, according to health authorities.

The circumstances surrounding the devastating explosion at Al-Ahli hospital remain uncertain. While the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry attributed the destruction to an Israeli airstrike, the Israeli military denies this, instead blaming a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group that has also disavowed responsibility.

Biden expressed his “outrage and deep sorrow” over the explosion at Al Ahli Arab Hospital, and instructed his national security team to continue to ascertain the precise details of the incident.

In the wake of the hospital catastrophe, protests erupted across the Middle East, from the West Bank cities to Beirut, Lebanon, and Amman, Jordan. The uproar led to the cancellation of Biden’s proposed meetings in Jordan with King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.

John Kirby disclosed that Jordan had announced a three-day period of mourning after the hospital incident and that Biden was in agreement with the “mutual” decision to cancel the Jordanian leg of his journey. The President plans to engage Arab leaders telephonically upon his return to Washington.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that the ongoing conflict is “propelling the region toward the brink.”

In addition, concerns are mounting that tensions could also escalate on Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon, where Hezbollah is active. The Iran-supported group has engaged in minor skirmishes with Israeli troops.

A strong advocate for the efficacy of personal diplomacy, Biden’s trip is seen as a litmus test for the extent of U.S. influence in a volatile Middle East. This marks his second diplomatic mission to a conflict zone this year, following a trip to Ukraine in February to demonstrate U.S. solidarity as the country faces Russian aggression.

The journey occurs against the backdrop of increasing humanitarian challenges in Gaza, with Israel having severed the supply of essential resources such as food, fuel, and water. Diplomatic efforts to ease this deadlock have been unproductive, despite U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s extended meetings with both Arab and Israeli leaderships.

Although Blinken’s dialogue resulted only in a tentative agreement for a plan to deliver aid to Gaza, U.S. officials emphasized that this represents a notable shift in Israel’s prior stance of isolating Gaza.

U.S. authorities project that the already thin Arab tolerance for Israel’s military activities would dissolve completely if conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, which could not only strengthen Hamas but also potentially embolden Iran to intensify its anti-Israel activities.

According to internal assessments from the administration, as reported anonymously by four officials, there are increasing fears that the situation could spiral into a broader regional conflict.

Contributions for this report were made by AP writer Matthew Lee in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden’s diplomatic mission to Israel

More about Biden’s diplomatic mission to Israel

• Biden’s Diplomatic Mission to Israel: An Overview
• The Israel-Hamas Conflict: Timeline and Key Events
• Explosion at Gaza Hospital: What We Know So Far
• U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East: Historical Context
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: An Ongoing Struggle
• Role of Personal Diplomacy in International Relations
• Geopolitical Implications of the Israel-Hamas Conflict