US President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States was ready to offer “all appropriate means of support” to Israel after an attack from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and warned “any other party hostile to Israel” not to seek advantage.
The attack from the Iran-backed militant group erupted amid efforts by Biden and his team to negotiate a landmark normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and a US-Saudi defence pact.
Biden spoke by phone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to offer US support, with scenes of violence playing out on American news networks. The two leaders have had strained relations but met in New York last month in a showing of solidarity.
“I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel,” Biden said in a statement issued after their call.
Biden also issued a blunt warning.
“Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation,” he said.
Biden was briefed early on Saturday about the events in Israel and White House officials worked through the night monitoring them, an official said.
