Biden to Address Middle East Tensions Amid Ongoing Hostage Situation

U.S. President Joe Biden will speak on the Middle East, while National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan meets diplomats from 17 countries with hostages held by Hamas. Despite recent Israeli airstrikes in Rafah and significant casualties, the U.S. will continue military aid to Israel.

U.S. President Joe Biden plans to deliver remarks on the Middle East on Friday afternoon, the White House said without elaborating.

In addition, a U.S. official said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan would meet on Friday with diplomats from 17 countries who have citizens held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. Biden has yet to comment on an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday that killed 45 Palestinians.

But White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that recent Israeli ground operations in Rafah would not prompt a U.S. withdrawal of more military aid. Palestinian health authorities estimate 36,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel attacked the enclave in response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people.