President Biden opened his visit to Israel Wednesday by blaming “other forces” for an explosion it said killed hundreds at a Gaza hospital – as Israel released video and audio it claimed proved Palestinian terrorists fired the deadly rocket.
“I am deeply saddened and angered by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday,” Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting.
“And based on what I’ve seen, it looks as if it was done by another team, not you,” he added.
However, Biden noted that there are “a lot of people out there” who are not sure what caused the explosion at al-Ahli hospital.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) blamed a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another terrorist group, which also denied responsibility.
Asked by a reporter how he could blame, Biden replied, “The data I was shown by the Department of Defense.”
A video from Al Jazeera that went viral on social media Tuesday afternoon showed a barrage of rockets being fired at Israel followed moments later by a large explosion nearby, lending credence to the IDF’s account.
Biden had planned to visit Jordan after a stop in Israel, but a meeting there with Arab leaders was canceled after the hospital explosion.
Also Wednesday, IDF audio is output from what they say are Islamic Jihad terrorists discussing the hospital explosion.
As President Joe Biden exited Air Force One, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled the commander-in-chief into a tight embrace.AP
In the audio, the terrorists admitted that the missile fragments “were local fragments, and not Israeli fragments,” according to a translation provided by Israel.
“They say this is Islamic Jihad,” said one. “Looks like it’s from us, yeah.”
Someone even reportedly said, “Oh my God, from us, it not only exploded, but in the hospital!”
Biden stepped off Air Force One as he arrived in Israel on Oct. 18. 2023. REUTERS
IDF spokesman Brig. General Daniel Hagari presented IDF intelligence findings to prove that the Jewish state was not responsible for the explosion.
He too present a video showing the various stages of the rocket’s trajectory and the layout of the affected hospital.
“The IDF has concluded an after-action review and confirmed that Islamic Jihad was responsible for the strike. We are conducting an immediate review for all relevant IDF branches,” Hagari said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
People gather by the bandaged body of a victim who died in an overnight explosion at Ahli Arab hospital in central Gaza on October 18, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
At 6:15 p.m., a barrage of rockets was fired by Hamas toward Israel, and at 6:50 p.m., 10 rockets were fired by Islamic jihadists from a nearby cemetery, he said.
And at 6:59 p.m., there was a report of an explosion at the hospital, he added.
“According to our intelligence, Hamas checked the report, and understood for itself that it was because of a misguided Islamic Jihad rocket and decided to launch a global media campaign to hide what happened,” Hagari said.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, more than 4,200 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 3,000 Palestinians killed and more than 12,500 injured.
The president also told Netanyahu on Wednesday that it was not hyperbole to say Hamas “killed” more than 1,300 people in the terror group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel.
“They have taken dozens of people hostage, including children. You say, ‘Imagine what the children hiding from Hamas must be thinking.’ It’s beyond my comprehension to imagine what they’re thinking,” Biden said.
“They have committed crimes and atrocities that make ISIS seem more rational,” he continued. “The American people are grieving with you, they really are. The American people are worried… because they know this is not an easy field to navigate what you have to do.”
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest news on Hamas attacks on Israel
Biden added: “I want to be here today for a simple reason: I want the people of Israel and the people of the world to know where the United States stands…. I want to come myself and explain it,” Biden said.
Netanyahu, whose government is under pressure to explain the intelligence failures that made the attack possible, thanked Biden for coming to Israel, telling him the visit was “very moving.”
“I know I speak for all Israelis when I say thank you, Mr. President, thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow, and always,” the prime minister said.
Neither man took questions after their opening remarks.
By Postal Wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
