US President Joe Biden warned Israel on Thursday that continuing U.S. support for the war in Gaza depends on Israel taking concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians, Reuters reported.
Following a deadly Israeli attack on a convoy of aid workers from José Andres’ World Central Kitchen, which killed seven men and women, including American citizens, Biden conveyed his message during a 30-minute call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
While Israel has claimed the attack was a ‘mistake,’ this is the first time the U.S. has ever even suggested it would condition aid to Israel as a means to curb Israeli military action in the occupied territories.
Despite facing pressure to withhold aid or cease weapons shipments to Israel – including escalating calls from Biden’s fellow Democrats to attach conditions to U.S. aid to Israel, Biden had previously refrained from taking such actions. However, his recent warning signals a significant potential shift in US policy even with the hint of a possible conditioning of aid, a move that could impact the ongoing conflict, now in its sixth month.
Biden told Netanyahu “an immediate ceasefire” is needed to “protect innocent civilians” in Gaza and improve the humanitarian situation. He “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” according to a White House statement after the leaders’ phone call.
The president also “made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by [the US’s] assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” according to the statement.
During a subsequent briefing, White House spokesperson John Kirby refrained from providing details on any potential policy changes towards Israel and Gaza, expressing the “hope” that Israel would announce the specified steps soon.
Such a potential policy shift reflects Bidens’ frustrations and the mounting pressure from the left-leaning faction of the Democratic Party to end the violence and alleviate suffering among innocent civilians.
Asked about any potential changes in U.S. policy, Netanyahu spokesperson Tal Heinrich told Fox News, “I think it’s something that Washington will have to explain.”
Subsequently, the White House commended Israel’s decision to open the Ashdod port and Erez crossing to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid and to increase direct deliveries from Jordan into Gaza. However, White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson emphasized the importance of these actions being promptly and fully implemented.
Renowned chef Jose Andres, whose seven aid workers were killed, in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday asserted that the Israeli military had “deliberately” and “systematically” fired on his aid worker convoy, separately car by car, over a distance of 1.5 to 1.8 kilometers.
Israel on Thursday claimed the attack was the result of a “misidentification.”
The White House has described Biden as “outraged” and “heartbroken.”