Mideast – Biden

President Joe Biden said in Israel Wednesday that evidence suggests that “the other side” is to blame for the explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. Referring to Islamist Palestinian groups by “the other side”, Biden made the statement shortly after landing in Israel on Wednesday and meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden himself did not address who the other side is.
     Biden told a joint press conference with Netanyahu that the United States will support Israel against Hamas, who he condemns. “Hamas has only brought suffering to the Palestinian people. I was deeply shaken and saddened by the explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. From what I’ve seen, it looks like it was caused by the other team,” Biden said.
     Tel Aviv will be the trip’s only stop for Biden, who is expected to insist during talks with Netanyahu that humanitarian aid must be secured for the civilian population of Gaza. The White House has made it clear that the human suffering caused by Israel’s battles with Hamas must be minimised. /ritzau/