Biden delivers strong support for Israel as ceasefire begins after deadly clashes

Published May 20, 2021 12:00am ET



President Joe Biden delivered a strong message of support for Israel on Thursday, confirming a mutual unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants while vowing full U.S. support to replenish the Jewish state’s Iron Dome missile rocket-intercepting system.

Speaking from the White House Cross Hall, Biden delivered his first extended remarks on the conflict, 11 days into the fighting that erupted when Hamas fired rockets from Gaza into Israel on May 10 following what the Palestinian side took as several aggressive acts by Israeli officials, including the eviction of Palestinian families in an East Jerusalem neighborhood. Biden said he had commended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call earlier, his sixth with the Israeli leader, who confirmed Israel’s support for a ceasefire. But he credited President Abdel Fattah al Sisi of Egypt, with whom he spoke for the first time since taking office on Thursday, with helping to secure the agreement. He also said he spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas “more than once.”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.