Biden to head to Israel, Jordan as concerns mount that Israel-Hamas conflict will spread

Biden to travel to Israel, Jordan to send message of U.S. support for Israel amid war with Hamas. Biden to meet with Israeli, Arab leaders, discuss humanitarian aid for Gaza. U.S. to ask Congress for $2B in aid for Israel, Ukraine. Biden, Harris briefed by national security team on situation in Israel, Gaza. Blinken in region to discuss with Arab leaders, reaffirm U.S. support for Israel.

President Joe Biden will travel to Israel and on to Jordan Wednesday to meet with both Israeli and Arab leadership, as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden’s travel to Israel as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire and as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 365sqkm territory to root out Hamas militants responsible for what U.S. and Israeli officials say was the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.

Mr. Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the U.S. is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and aid to the region. Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting Russia’s invasion.

Mr. Blinken made the announcement early Tuesday after more than seven hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.

“He is coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Mr. Blinken said.

Shortly after in Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that Mr. Biden would also go to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“We’ve been crystal clear about the need for humanitarian aid to be able to continue to flow into Gaza," Mr. Kirby said. “That has been a consistent call by President Biden and certainly by this entire administration.”