President Joe Biden Visits Tel Aviv to Demonstrate U.S. Solidarity with Israel Amid Growing Conflict in the Middle East.

President Joe Biden arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for a brief but important trip to demonstrate U.S. solidarity with Israel ahead of an expected ground assault against Hamas and concerns about humanitarian aid in Gaza.

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed his sadness and outrage over a deadly blast at a Christian-run hospital in Gaza City that is estimated to have killed hundreds. He suggested that Palestinian militants were behind the explosion.

“Based on what I’ve seen it appears as though it was done by the other team — not you,” Biden said, addressing Netanyahu.

The Hamas militant group said Tuesday’s tragedy at Al Ahli Arab hospital was caused by an Israeli airstrike, but Israeli officials rejected the claim, saying the Palestinian militants fired rockets near the hospital during a “failed” launch.

The visit is Biden’s first to Israel since taking office in January. He is expected to meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his trip. He will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Biden’s visit is seen as an effort to show U.S. support for Israel and to prevent the war from escalating into a larger conflict in the Middle East. It also comes amid growing calls for a ceasefire and concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.