Mr. Biden has been planning to use the visit to show solidarity with America’s closest ally in the Middle East and to urge Israel to avoid civilian casualties.
“The timing and optics of such a significant visit couldn’t be any worse,” said Charles Lister, the director of counterterrorism at the Middle East Institute.
“Whatever the circumstances behind this strike at the hospital in Gaza, it doesn’t really matter at this point.
They also said he believed an in-person visit could help him better understand Israel’s strategy as a ground invasion of Gaza loomed.
“The failure to have an actual major strategy, I think, is the long-term biggest risk here,” Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Program, said in an interview.
Persons:
Biden, ”, Charles Lister, we’ve, Mr, ” Jonathan Panikoff, ” John F, Kirby
Organizations:
Middle East Institute, Security Initiative, NBC’s
Locations:
Israel, Gaza, U.S