Joe Biden confuses Gaza with Ukraine
During an announcement regarding desperately needed aid for Palestinians, President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Gaza as Ukraine, leading to confusion. The 81-year-old president confirmed that the United States would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and urged Israel to do more to facilitate help for those affected by famine and the consequences of war. Biden emphasized the importance of saving children's lives in this critical situation.
Biden's two verbal slips, referring to airdrops to "Ukraine," caused White House officials to clarify that he was indeed speaking about Gaza. The president made the announcement while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Washington. He underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that the current aid reaching Gaza is insufficient and that hundreds of trucks, rather than just a few, should be delivering assistance.
The president's announcement followed a statement from the Hamas-run health ministry, reporting that 30,000 Palestinians have died since the war began in October. Gaza is experiencing widespread hunger and severe malnutrition, with approximately 2.2 million Palestinians facing dire shortages due to the destruction of food supplies and severe restrictions on the flow of essential items imposed by Israel. Additionally, Palestinians waiting for humanitarian relief and aid trucks have come under Israeli fire.
Addressing the issue at the White House, President Biden stated that the United States would collaborate with Jordan and other allies to carry out airdrops of additional food and supplies in Gaza. He also mentioned the possibility of establishing a marine corridor for delivering large amounts of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, clarifying that this was a separate matter. Biden further emphasized the need for Israel to facilitate more trucks and routes to ensure that more people receive the assistance they urgently require.
Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, Jordan, and the UK, have already conducted airdrops to provide aid in the region.