President Joe Biden engaged in a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, marking their first exchange since an incident where seven humanitarian aid workers were killed in Gaza by an airstrike.
In this conversation, as outlined by the White House, Biden underscored the urgent nature of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and suggested that the future trajectory of U.S. policy towards this crisis would depend on Israel’s immediate efforts to minimize civilian casualties and ensure the safety of aid workers.
According to a statement from the White House summarizing the call, President Biden stressed the unacceptable nature of the attacks on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian crisis. He emphasized the necessity for Israel to announce and implement specific, tangible measures to address civilian casualties, humanitarian suffering, and the protection of aid workers. Furthermore, he made it clear that U.S. policy concerning Gaza would be influenced by how swiftly Israel acted on these measures.
The message from the White House can be interpreted as a stern warning from Biden, who has been increasingly impatient with Netanyahu but has not yet substantially altered the U.S. position on the Gaza conflict.
It marks Biden’s strongest suggestion yet of a conditional approach to aid for Israel since the conflict began. Moreover, the statement implies that Netanyahu himself could be perceived as an obstacle to achieving a ceasefire.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, pointed out a shift in the administration’s patience, indicating an expectation for imminent changes from Israel, stressing the urgency within “hours and days.”
Kirby stated, “What we want to see are some real changes. If we don’t see changes on their side, there will have to be changes on our side.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed this sentiment during a NATO press conference, taking a firmer stance towards Israel and highlighting the need for it to adjust its approach to maintain U.S. support.
“Blinken remarked that Israel must meet this moment,” indicating the possibility of U.S. policy adjustments depending on Israel’s actions.
