Biden twice confuses Gaza with Ukraine as he approves US military aid airdrops

Washington DC (Quds News Network) – In a press briefing on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the United States would provide crucial aid to the war-torn Palestinian territory of Gaza. However, the 81-year-old president twice confused Gaza with Ukraine during his statement.
Biden confirmed that humanitarian assistance, including food and supplies, would be airdropped into Gaza in collaboration with Jordan and other partners. This announcement comes as the Gaza Health Ministry reported a devastating toll of 30,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces since the war began in October.
“We’re going to join with our friends in Jordan and others who are providing airdrops of additional food and supplies,” Biden stated. He also expressed the intent to explore alternative avenues for aid delivery, including the possibility of a marine corridor.
Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, Jordan, and the UK, have already conducted airdrops to provide much-needed relief to the beleaguered region.
However, Biden’s statements were not without confusion, as he mistakenly referred to airdrops aimed at helping Ukraine instead of Gaza. White House officials later clarified that the president’s remarks were indeed about Gaza.
During the announcement, President Biden, while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Washington, emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that “children’s lives are on the line.”
“Aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough,” he said, acknowledging the severity of the humanitarian crisis.
Biden expressed hope for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas before the onset of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month scheduled to begin on March 10. However, he admitted that all sides were still far from reaching an agreement on timing.
Biden’s commitment to airdrops followed a tragic incident in Gaza City on Thursday, where at least 115 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces and over 750 others injured while waiting for badly needed aid trucks. Israeli troops opened fire as crowds rushed to retrieve goods from the convoy, leading to a deadly massacre.
On Friday evening, the UK joined international calls for an investigation into the killings. Foreign Secretary David Cameron described the incident as “horrific” and emphasized the need for an urgent inquiry and accountability.