Biden 'didn’t hear the full question': White House retracts comment agreeing to put off Israeli invasion of Gaza

The White House has retracted President Joe Biden’s comment agreeing that Israel should put off a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip until more hostages were released.

The White House said that the US president did not fully hear the question, reported the Guardian.

Biden had said, “yes” when reporters shouted questions regarding Israel’s imminent ground incursion into Gaza, while he was climbing the stairs of his official plane. White House said that given the noise of the plane’s engine, Biden could not hear the question properly and instead thought he was being asked if he’d like to see more hostages freed, to which he said “yes.”

“The president was far away. He didn’t hear the full question,” White House communications director Ben LaBolt was quoted by the Guardian as saying.

The question sounded like: ‘Would you like to see more hostages released?’ He wasn’t commenting on anything else.

In the last few days, Israel has gathered tanks and troops near the Gaza border for a planned ground invasion.

Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while more than 1 million have been displaced, according to Palestinian officials.

This ongoing conflict was triggered after Hamas terrorists burst into Israel on 7 October, killing 1,400 people – mainly civilians – and taking about 200 hostages.