Joe Biden gives rambling half-mumbled speech on Air Force One as concerned staff look on
Joe Biden mumbles through press conference as
Joe Biden has raised further concerns about his ability in a half-mumbled address to the press following his visit to Israeli capital Tel Aviv.
Speaking on Air Force One ahead of his return flight, the US President discussed negotiations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to allow trucks passage into Gaza to provide humanitarian support to the region.
The trip comes amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in which civilian casualties has now reached thousands from both Israel and Palestine.
Biden insisted he had been ‘blunt’ with Israel about the need to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Joe Biden discusses providing humanitarian aid to Gaza
Reuters
Faltering slightly, the US President said: “Israel has been badly victimised. But you know, the truth is that if they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who have nowhere to go, they're going to be… It's what they should do.”
“And if they don't, they'll be held accountable in ways that may be unfair. But that's what we need to. And my point to everyone is, look, if you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain, you should do it.
“And if you don't, you're going to lose credibility worldwide and I think everyone understands that.
The 80-year-old President’s voice appeared to slur throughout the speech which came at the end of his short trip to meet Israelis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US President met with Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm the US's support for IsraelREUTERSBiden went on to describe the details of the discussion with the Egyptian President on how aid could best be provided to Palestinians.
“I've been on the phone for the last - I don't know, we've been on the ground a while, that's why we haven't taken off - with El-Sisi.”
“He agreed that what he would do is open the gate on… to do two things. One, let up to 20 trucks through to begin with.”
A White House official said the twenty trucks carrying aid via the Rafah crossing would cross into Gaza in coming days, adding that the U.S. hoped more trucks would be allowed entry eventually.
Joe Biden read from pre-prepared notes as he met with Benjamin NetanyahuREUTERSThe President confused himself again, saying: “Satterfield, my ambassador's down there, in… not down there… in Cairo.“
“They have to fill in potholes to get these trucks through. They expect it'll take about eight hours tomorrow. So there may be nothing rolling through until - What's today? I’m losing track of days. Wednesday? - Probably until Friday.”
Biden made it clear that this humanitarian aid, which would see refugees into the UN’s hands at the border, comes with a caveat.
“If Hamas confiscates it or doesn't let it get through, just confiscates it, then it's going to end because we're not going to be sending any humanitarian aid to Hamas if they're going to come be confiscated. That’s the commitment that I’ve made.”