President Joe Biden twice confused Gaza with Ukraine as he announced the US would provide desperately needed aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Mr Biden, 81, confirmed on Friday that humanitarian assistance would be airdropped into Gaza – a day after the Hamas-run health ministry said 30,000 Palestinians have died since the war began last October.
“In the coming days, we’re going to join with our friends in Jordan and others who are providing airdrops of additional food and supplies”, the president said, adding the US will “seek to open up other avenues in, including possibly a marine corridor”.
But Mr Biden twice mistakenly referred to airdrops to help Ukraine – leaving White House officials to clarify that he was in fact talking about Gaza.
Pic: Reuters
Mr Biden revealed the development while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Washington – as he warned “children’s lives are on the line”.
“Aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough,” he said.
“Now, it’s nowhere nearly enough. Innocent lives are on the line and children’s lives are on the line.
“We won’t stand by until we get more aid in there. We should be getting hundreds of trucks in, not just several.”
Mr Biden also said he hoped there would be a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas by the time of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month which is expected to start on 10 March.
He told reporters: “We’re still working real hard at it. We’re not there yet.”
He said all sides have to agree on timing but that “they’re still far apart”.
President Biden hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Friday. Pic: Reuters
Mr Biden’s promise of airdrops came a day after dozens of Palestinians perished during a deadly aid truck incident in Gaza City.
At least 115 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 others were injured, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, on Thursday.
Witnesses said nearby Israeli troops opened fire as huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.
Israel said many of the dead were trampled in a stampede linked to the chaos – and that its troops fired at some people in the crowd who they believed moved towards them in a threatening way.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
IDF: Aid convoy incident in Gaza is a tragedy
On Friday evening, the UK joined demands for an investigation into the killings, described by Foreign Secretary David Cameron as “horrific”.
Lord Cameron said there must be “an urgent investigation and accountability” – amid growing international calls for a probe into the episode.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Analysis of the deadly Gaza aid truck incident
“This must not happen again,” he said.
While he did not directly blame Israel, he linked the deaths to the lack of aid being allowed into Gaza.
“We can’t separate what happened yesterday from the inadequate aid supplies,” Lord Cameron said.
“In February, only half the number of trucks crossed into Gaza that did in January. This is simply unacceptable.
“Israel has an obligation to ensure that significantly more humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza.”
Read more:
Exclusive: The company making millions from Gaza misery
Hamas tells Sky News Biden’s ceasefire hopes are ‘wishful thinking’
Biden faces voter backlash over Israel policy
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “strongest condemnation” for the shootings and called for “truth, justice and respect for international law” in a post on X.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the incident on the social media platform, writing: “The desperate civilians in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the north where the UN has not been able to deliver aid in more than a week.”
Pardon my interruption, but I couldn’t help but notice a few grammatical errors in the original statement. Should it not be ‘President Biden twice confuses Gaza with Ukraine as he approves US military aid **airdrops**’? Such details matter, especially when discussing matters of international importance.
The recent confusion by President Biden regarding the locations of Gaza and Ukraine highlights the need for accurate and timely information to be readily available to our leaders. It is essential that those in positions of power have a clear understanding of the geopolitical landscapes they are dealing with in order to make informed decisions. This incident underscores the importance of comprehensive briefings and staff support.
It appears that President Biden may have made a verbal misstep during his recent discussions on military aid distribution. While it is understandable that mistakes can happen, it is concerning that such a high-level official could confuse two regions with such distinct geopolitical contexts. The implications of such a mix-up could potentially impact the accuracy and effectiveness of aid delivery.
I am deeply concerned by President Biden’s apparent confusion between Gaza and Ukraine. This is not a minor slip-up, but a major cause for alarm. How can we trust the judgment of a leader who cannot even keep track of the locations of ongoing conflicts? The safety and security of our nation depend on the competency and clarity of our leaders.
From a geopolitical perspective, this error by President Biden is not merely a matter of semantics. It reflects a deeper issue—the need for our leaders to possess a nuanced understanding of the complex and often interconnected challenges facing our world. Accurate geographical knowledge is not simply a matter of trivia; it is essential for effective decision-making and strategic planning.
Well, well, well…it seems that our fearless leader has managed to confuse the Middle East with Eastern Europe. One would think that a President should have a basic grasp of geography, but apparently, that’s too much to ask nowadays.
Our Commander-in-Chief must be held to the highest standards, and this includes being well-informed about the areas where our military forces are deployed. The fact that President Biden twice confused Gaza with Ukraine raises serious questions about his fitness for office. We need a leader who is sharp and focused, not one who is prone to such basic errors.
Breaking news: President Biden has just announced a new military strategy—airdropping aid to Ukraine…via the Gaza Strip. Talk about a cross-continental mix-up! I guess the GPS on Air Force One needs a little bit of an update.
As a parent, I am horrified by President Biden’s lack of geographical knowledge. How can I trust him to make decisions that affect my children’s future if he can’t even tell the difference between Ukraine and Gaza? This is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly.
It’s worth noting that President Biden is not the first world leader to make a geographical gaffe. In fact, former President George W. Bush famously referred to Africa as a ‘nation’ instead of a continent. These mistakes, while unfortunate, should not detract from the overall competence and leadership qualities of our presidents.
Mistakes happen, folks! I’m sure President Biden meant well, and I applaud his efforts to provide aid to Ukraine. Let’s not get bogged down in semantics and focus on the positive impact this aid will have on the people who need it most.
Oh dear, it seems that our esteemed leader has managed to mix up Gaza with Ukraine. One wonders if this is a case of advanced age or simply a lack of geographical knowledge. Either way, it’s not a good look for someone who is supposed to be in charge of our nation’s foreign policy.
I find it hard to believe that President Biden simply misspoke. Could this be a sign of something more sinister? Is he losing his mental sharpness? Is there a deeper agenda at play here? I urge everyone to be vigilant and question everything that comes out of Washington.
Every cloud has a silver lining! Maybe this little mix-up will inspire President Biden to take a crash course in global geography. On the bright side, at least he didn’t confuse Ukraine with Uzbekistan! Hahahaha.