Worthy Christian News > US News > Biden Says ‘War in Gaza Gut-Wrenching’ and that ‘Age Made Him Clearer Thinking’

Biden Says ‘War in Gaza Gut-Wrenching’ and that ‘Age Made Him Clearer Thinking’

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the war in Gaza is “gut-wrenching” and urged more humanitarian aid, including through an aid port the American military is setting up.

In his State of the Union speech, his last before upcoming elections, he also pledged not to abandon Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022. Biden urged the U.S. Congress to pass legislation with billions in financial aid to Kyiv.

He hailed NATO’s strength, noting its two newest members: Finland, which joined in 2023, and Sweden, which officially joined earlier Thursday.

Biden condemned former President and likely Republican nominee Donald J. Trump for allegedly not strongly repudiating Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling Trump’s remarks dangerous and unacceptable.

“We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down,” Biden said, to thunderous applause from especially his Democratic supporters.

However, he quickly turned to the other armed conflict keeping him awake at night: the Israel-Hamas war. He pledged to work to bring every hostage home, pointing to American families whose loved ones are still being held by Hamas and who were attending the speech.

Turning to Gaza, Biden described the “heart-breaking” conditions in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry claiming more than 30,000 Palestinians were killed so far. “We’ve been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last at least six weeks.”

HUMAN SHIELDS

Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields and hiding between civilian sites, including hospitals and schools.

President Biden confirmed earlier reports that the U.S. military will construct a port in Gaza to allow more humanitarian aid to arrive in the embattled territory.

U.S. officials said the temporary port set up within weeks in Cyprus will help several hundred additional truckloads of aid enter Gaza each day.

Israel also suggested there was a lack of cooperation between Palestinian authorities and aid groups as hundreds of truckloads of aid have been stuck waiting to be distributed in Gaza.

Between 200 and 300 truckloads were at the Kerem Shalom crossing point this week from Israel into southern Gaza, waiting to be picked up and distributed, said Israeli officials from the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

The White House said that Israel had agreed to open a third road crossing into Gaza, giving more direct access to northern Gaza, where the “threat of famine” is the most imminent.

However, it was unclear whether all aid would be picked up from there. About a quarter of the Gaza Strip’s population is on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.

AIRDROPPING NATIONS

The U.S. and other countries, including Jordan, France, and the Netherlands, have been airdropping supplies into Gaza, but humanitarian organizations say the method can’t meet demands.

While the Middle East was an essential part of his speech, Biden finally mentioned his age – a subject of much scrutiny and concern for most Americans, according to recent polls.

“Let me close with this. I know I may not look like it – but I’ve been around a while. And when you get to my age – certain things become clearer than ever before,” the 81-year-old said.

Biden said his life has taught him to “embrace freedom and democracy” and a “future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, equality.”

Yet, “Now, some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me,” Biden said, clearly referring to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who he likely faces as his rival in the November elections.

As part of his focus on democracy, Biden turned to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, when rioters claiming to be Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Congress building.

“Many of you were here on that darkest of days,” he said. “We all saw with our own eyes these insurrectionists were not patriots. They had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power.”

OLDEST PRESIDENT

The oldest president in U.S. history still faces tough domestic issues ahead of the rerun for the White House, including a massive migration crisis at the Mexico border.

In what at times appeared to be a campaign speech, Biden noted that a bipartisan border bill failed amid fierce opposition from House Republicans.

The legislation would have seen 1,500 border security agents hired, as well as 100 more immigration judges to help tackle a backlog of cases in the immigration system and, in his words, “save lives.”

The bill would give him the ability to “temporarily shut down” the border when the number of migrants is “overwhelming.”

He blamed Trump for the failure. “I’m told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate and demanded they block the bill,” he said. “He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him.”

“It’s not about him,” he said. “It’s not about me.” As he spoke, Biden also dealt with hecklers from the Republican side of the chamber, seen as a sign of how politically contentious the issue is.

He vowed to “stand up for seniors” by protecting social programs like Social Security and Medicare. “If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare, I will stop you,” he warned the Congress.

EXPENSIVE DRUGS

He also complained that “Americans pay more for prescription drugs. It’s wrong, and I’m ending it,” he said before a jab at the “Republican buddies” who voted against a law to bring prices down.

He said he wants to cap prescription costs at $2,000 yearly for everyone. “I’m going to get in trouble for saying that,” he added.

With elections approaching, Biden also touched upon the U.S. education system, saying that “the best education system in the world” is needed to drive the U.S. economy.

He hoped to reduce student loan debt for nearly 4 million Americans, “including nurses and firefighters.”

“Such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home, start a business, even start a family,” he said. “While we’re at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise.”

To highlight his point, Biden pointed to Keenan Jones, a Minnesota public school teacher among the guests.

Critics pointed out that he did not say how he would raise public school teachers’ salaries, given that their pay and benefits are often set in contracts and by state and local governments.

BRIGHTER FUTURE?

The president cited studies suggesting that children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish secondary school, “no matter their background.”

Despite the many difficulties and tense political climate, Biden was also trying to paint an image of a strong, optimistic America while avoiding referencing the ‘Make America Great Again’ movement sparked by Trump.

“It’s because of you America is coming back,” he stressed. “The state of our union is strong and getting stronger.”

He turned to a “future of possibilities that we can build together.”

Most of the president’s lines were being met by loud applause from his fellow Democrats.

Vice President Kamala Harris was up from her chair countless times to give her boss a standing ovation.