Biden Says Hamas Attack Was to Halt Israel-Saudi Arabia Thaw
- US was working to normalize Israel, Saudi Arabia relations
- Oct. 7 attack killed more than 1,400 people, 200 taken hostage
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US President Joe Biden said Hamas attacked Israel in part to stymie its efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, his most illuminating comments yet on the impetus for the crisis in the Middle East.
“One of the reasons why they acted like they did, why Hamas moved on Israel, is because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis,” Biden said on Friday at a campaign fundraiser in Washington. “Because the Saudis wanted to recognize Israel and that would in fact unite the Middle East.”