New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday that she will travel to Israel for a “solidarity mission” amid an escalating conflict between Israel’s military and the Hamas terrorist group.
“During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever for New York to show up in support of Israel,” she stated. “New York will show the world that we stand with Israel—today, tomorrow, and forever.”
New York has the largest percentage of Jews among all the U.S. states, with 21 percent of the nation’s 7.6 million Jewish people residing there as of 2020, according to the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University.
Biden Traveling to Israel and Jordan
Ms. Hochul’s visit will take place ahead of President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel on Oct. 18, which the White House said is intended to demonstrate his “steadfast support” for the country and to consult on the next steps.
“The president will hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas,” he added.
President Biden will then travel to Jordan and meet with His Majesty King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to the White House.
“They are victims here, as well, of Hamas,” said Mr. Kirby, who noted that Hamas terrorists have been sheltering in civilian homes and schools and tunnels underneath residences, effectively using Gazans “as human shields.”
President Biden will “make it clear that we want to continue to work with all our partners in the region, including Israel, to get humanitarian assistance in and again to provide some sort of safe passage for civilians to get out,” Mr Kirby added.
Mr. Kirby noted that Egypt’s president “obviously has a significant role to play” in providing safe passage for Gazans, with the Rafah crossing, the southernmost border crossing from Gaza that borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
“He will certainly reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” Mr. Kirby said. “And he'll discuss, again, the humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza.”
Israel declared a state of war after Hamas launched land, air, and sea attacks on Oct. 7. The Israeli military has responded with its heaviest bombardment of Gaza, the stronghold of Hamas. The death toll in Israel has passed 1,400, and 2,800 in Gaza as of Oct. 16, according to multiple reports.
