Biden announces $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and West Bank
Biden cautioned Hamas against attempting to divert the aid.
The U.S. will send $100 million in aid for humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
"This money will support more than 1 million displaced in conflict affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza,” Biden said Wednesday during a speech in Tel Aviv.
The announcement comes after a massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital Tuesday, killing hundreds of people. Hamas blamed the explosion on Israel, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. Biden has so far sided with Israeli officials, telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the attack appeared to be carried out “by the other team.”
Biden cautioned Hamas against attempting to divert the aid, saying that if the group attempts to interfere assistance will end.
"If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, they will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people, and it will end as a practical matter," Biden said. "It will stop the international community from being able to provide this aid."
Biden also said that he spoke with members of the Israeli cabinet on Wednesday “to agree to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance of civilians in Gaza.”
After restricting the flow of resources to the region, Israel confirmed food, water and medicine would begin to pass through the border, according to the Associated Press.
Biden arrived in Israel early Wednesday morning in a bold show of support for America’s strongest ally in the Middle East, after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on the country.
At least 1,300 people were killed in the surprise attack. Israel since hit back by conducting a siege of Gaza, rocking the region with continual air strikes and killing more than 3,000 Palestinians, according to authorities in Gaza.
The U.S. has thrown its full support behind Israel since the attack, sending two aircraft carriers to the region in an effort to deter other actors from entering the war.
