IDF spokesman: Biden visit won’t delay Gaza ground operation

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman says the military does not expect tomorrow’s visit to Israel by US President Joe Biden to delay or complicate the ground operation in Gaza.

“I think the president also said that ‘Hamas needs to be destroyed,’ and that is exactly our military aim,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus tells CNN.

Biden will make a wartime visit in the latest demonstration of Washington’s overwhelming support for Jerusalem following the October 7 Hamas onslaught.

He will be the first head of state to visit Israel since the conflict began. He delivered a passionate speech last week in which he expressed his horror over the brutal Hamas assault, winning over Israelis across the political spectrum.