Oct. 16 (UPI) — President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday as part of U.S. efforts to prevent the Israeli-Hamas conflict from expanding.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement while he was in Tel Aviv early Tuesday local time. It was reported late Monday in U.S. news markets.
“He’s coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Blinken told reporters in a press conference.
The United States’ top diplomat explained the president will again reiterate Israel’s right to defend itself while on Israeli soil and will hear from Israeli leaders about what they need to achieve that goal.
His visit will also act as a deterrent against others who may consider taking advantage of the chaos, Blinken said, adding that Biden will be coordinating with Israeli partners to secure the release of the hostage taken by Hamas.
While in Israel, Biden will also receive a comprehensive briefing on Israel’s war aims and strategies, Blinken said.
Blinken had spent all day Monday in meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel prepares for its next advance in its fight against Hamas, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis and took more than 120 hostages in its recent attack Oct. 7.
Israel has responded with the large-scale bombing of Gaza, which has killed more than 2,670 people and wounded 9,600.
Some 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza have been told to evacuate to the south because of the anticipated Israeli ground invasion.
Biden has been considering such a visit after Netanyahu extended the invitation this past weekend.
Earlier in the day Monday, Biden canceled a scheduled trip to Colorado that had been planned for the president to tout his Investing in America economic plan. Instead, Biden remained at the White House “to participate in national security meetings,” White House officials said.