Biden to visit Israel as Gaza ground offensive looms

US President Joe Biden will make a landmark trip to Israel on Wednesday (Oct 18), a show of "ironclad" support as Washington tries to prevent the escalating war in Gaza

US President Joe Biden will make a landmark trip to Israel on Wednesday (Oct 18), a show of "ironclad" support as Washington tries to prevent the escalating war in Gaza from spilling over into regional conflict.

The trip comes just days after Gaza-based Hamas fighters broke through Israel's heavily fortified border, shooting, stabbing and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.