U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on a solidarity visit following recent Hamas attacks, all while tensions in the region remain high due to a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital. The hospital incident has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally welcomed President Biden on the tarmac, reflecting the close relationship between the two leaders. They exchanged a warm greeting, with Netanyahu putting his arms around the U.S. president and Biden clasping his hands around Netanyahu in a sign of unity.
Security measures for President Biden were notably stringent, even for a U.S. head of state. Guards observed their brief tarmac conversation, and afterward, they departed for a Tel Aviv hotel, where important talks were scheduled to take place.
Security was a top priority, with hundreds of armed police and troops stationed around the seafront hotel where the meeting was to occur. Armed snipers were positioned on the roofs of nearby buildings as an extra precaution.
Tel Aviv, the meeting location, is just 65 kilometers (approximately 40 miles) from the Gaza Strip, which is currently under the rule of Hamas. The region has been under intense scrutiny since the devastating attack by Hamas militants on October 7.
President Biden’s visit is seen as a show of support for Israel during a challenging period, as the country deals with the aftermath of the hospital blast and continues its military actions in the Gaza Strip.