Joe Biden lounges at the beach in Delaware with Jill and Naomi (2024)

President Joe Biden is getting in some beach time near his Rehoboth Beach getaway house, lounging by the waves with family while VP Kamala Harriscarries the burden of campaigning.

Biden arrived at his Delaware beach home Thursday night, after an emotional visit to his Wilmington campaign headquarters now that he has 'passed the torch' to Harris, who drew 10,000 at an Arizona rally and has been rising in swing take polls after reinvigorating the race.

Biden, 81, seemed content with his current lot, waiving at reporters from a distance as he strolled to the beach on a balmy 79 degree day now that the remnants Hurricane Betty have passed by.

Beachgoers, accustomed to Biden's occasional visits, mostly gave him space as he sat with wife Jill and granddaughter Naomi. Secret Service agents had cleared out a large area for them. Two black-clad agents scanned weekenders with large binoculars from a sand dune above.

As he made his way there, Biden ignored a shouted question about the state of the race and the tense situation in Gaza, preferring to get right down to recreating.

He stopped and chatted with a group of kids who approached, and got a round of applause when he arrived. A few visitors stood and gawked.

Once he arrived at his beach camp, he inclined far back in his reclining chair. Then he sat up and enjoyed a beverage, chatting with the first lady and Naomi.

At times, he his conversation was focused on Naomi, who covered up with a long sundress. Luckily, Jill was prepared with a book: All the Colors of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker – which is recommended by Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of President George W. Bush. Her readings can be seen in video captured by C-SPAN, which managed to position a camera on the beach.

Set in 1975, the novel involves the daughter of a wealthy family in a small Missouri town where girls are disappearing. An Amazon review calls it a'missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each.'

Reporters who travel with the president were kept back but in range for photographers to capture the first couple during the visit, which comes at peak tourist season at the Delaware beaches.

Biden's arrival at the beach coincided with a grim statement from the White House National Security Council, following an attack by Israeli Defense Forces on a school compound in Gaza.

'We are deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties in Gaza following a strike by the Israel Defense Forces on a compound that included a school. We are in touch with our Israeli counterparts, who have said they targeted senior Hamas officials, and we are asking for further details. We know Hamas has been using schools as locations to gather and operate out of, but we have also said repeatedly and consistently that Israel must take measures to minimize civilian harm,' said the statement.

'We mourn every Palestinian civilian lost in this conflict, including children, and far too many civilians continue to be killed and wounded. This underscores the urgency of a ceasefire and hostage deal, which we continue to work tirelessly to achieve,' addedNSC Spokesperson Sean Savett.

That came after Harris once again had to contend with protesters of Israel's war on Hamas at her Arizona rally Friday night.

This time, instead of simply referring to beating Trump – a line that some allies took as callous – Harris told her rally crowd that 'now is the time' and told protesters that 'i respect your voices.'

The issue is certain to follower her to her party's convention in Chicago, even as she has pulled ahead of where Biden was in the polls, grabbing leads in three 'Blue Wall' swing states in the latest New York Times / Siena College poll.