Biden takes credit for securing ‘safe passage’ out of Gaza for civilians

President Joe Biden celebrated Egypt‘s decision Wednesday to open the Rafah crossing to Palestinians and foreign nationals fleeing Gaza amid Israel’s war against Hamas.

The president, speaking at a farm in Minnesota, specifically said that Egypt’s decision to open the border crossing, a reversal of its original posture following Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attacks, was thanks to “concerted American leadership.”

DEMOCRATS LAUNCH ATTACK ADS AGAINST VULNERABLE REPUBLICANS OVER ELECTION OF SPEAKER JOHNSON

“We’re in a situation where a safe passage for wounded Palestinians and foreign nationals to exit Gaza has started. American citizens are able to exit today as part of the first group of probably over 1,000,” Biden told the crowd at the top of his remarks. “We’ll see more of this process going on in the coming days working nonstop to get Americans out of Gaza as soon as safely as possible. This is a result of intense and urgent American diplomacy with our partners in the region. I personally spent a lot of time speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and President Sisi of Egypt and others to make sure that we could open this access for people to get out.”

Andrew Harnik/AP

Biden’s comments come as the White House has faced new pressure to support a ceasefire in Israel so that the remainder of civilians in Gaza can evacuate.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Still, both the president and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby have said that a temporary ceasefire would only benefit Hamas, and the administration remains confident that the Israel Defense Forces is doing everything it can to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.

You can watch Biden’s comments in full below.