Biden Promises To Help Gaza — And Israel’s Military — Rebuild After 11 Days Of Fighting - Forbes

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Topline

The United States will help Israel replenish its rocket interceptor system and send humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, President Joe Biden announced Thursday on the eve of a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas that is hoped to end 11 days of heavy fighting.

Key Facts

In a speech from the White House, Biden confirmed that Israel and Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire starting early Friday morning, cooling off hostilities after heavy airstrikes that have wreaked destruction in the Gaza Strip and thousands of rocket attacks on Israeli cities.

Biden promised to help Israel replenish its Iron Dome missile defense system, which uses pricey guided interceptors to shoot down up to 90% of the homemade rockets Hamas and other Gaza-based militant groups have lobbed at cities in Israel over the years.

The president also pledged to offer “rapid humanitarian assistance” to the Gaza Strip after Israeli airstrikes destroyed many buildings in the densely packed territory.

Biden said the United States will assist Gaza by partnering with the Palestinian Authority rather than Hamas, which most Western countries consider to be a terrorist group.

This effort could prove difficult because Hamas has tense relations with the Palestinian Authority, which is controlled by Fatah, the competing Palestinian movement that Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from in 2007, but the United States has pledged aid to Gaza in the past, often sending assistance via the United Nations.

Big Number

$1.6 billion. That’s how much funding the United States has granted for the Iron Dome since it was first created in 2011, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Crucial Quote

“[Netanyahu] shared with me his appreciation for the Iron Dome system, which our nations developed together and which has saved the lives of countless Israeli citizens, both Arab and Jew,” Biden said Thursday. “I assured him of my full support to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome system to ensure its defenses and security in the future.”

Key Background

Israel and Hamas have waged on-and-off war since the militant group took over the Gaza Strip and Israel started blockading the territory 14 years ago. For the last 11 days, the two sides have faced off in their most severe escalation in years: Militants have shot thousands of rockets at Israel, killing at least a dozen Israelis, and Israel has leveled buildings in Gaza it says are linked to Hamas, killing over 230 Gazans according to Palestinian health officials. Biden’s position has evolved significantly in the last two weeks. The president and members of his Cabinet have placed at least 14 phone calls with their Israeli counterparts, and Biden’s tone has shifted from broadly endorsing Israel’s right to self-defense last week to telling Netanyahu he expected a “significant de-escalation” and eventual ceasefire Wednesday.

Chief Critic

Some Democrats have called on Biden to limit Israeli arms sales rather than pledge more support, taking aim at Israel’s practice of striking densely populated parts of Gaza, including high-rises and homes in refugee camps (Israel says it tries to avoid civilian casualties). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is pushing to block the sale of certain aircraft-launched weapons, though this likely wouldn’t cut off the Tamir missiles Israel uses in the Iron Dome system.