President Biden has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take specific steps to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza during a recent phone call, the White House confirmed. This call marks the first direct communication between the two leaders since an Israeli attack killed seven humanitarian workers from the World Central Kitchen.
According to a White House statement, Biden criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, stating that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. The President emphasized that US policy towards Gaza will be determined by Israel’s actions to address the harm and suffering caused.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby hinted at potential consequences for Israel if they do not increase aid flow into Gaza and protect civilians and aid workers. However, he did not provide specific details on what these consequences might entail.
Despite these criticisms, the Biden administration has ruled out placing conditions on aid and weapon transfers to Israel, and has continued to support Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a means to combat Hamas.
During the call, Biden also expressed support for Israel against possible threats from Iran. This comes as tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated, with reports of an Israeli air raid on an Iranian consulate in Damascus.
While the Biden administration has called for accountability for the attack on the World Central Kitchen workers, they have not indicated any changes to their support for Israel or their weapon transfers. Critics argue that Israel should not be trusted to investigate itself, as past incidents have shown a lack of accountability for rights violations.
Overall, the Biden administration’s stance on the conflict in Gaza remains supportive of Israel, despite calls for greater protection of civilians and aid workers. The US continues to stand by Israel’s right to defend itself against threats, including those from Iran.
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Long-Term Implications and Future Developments
President Joe Biden’s recent pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza could have significant long-term implications for US-Israel relations and the ongoing conflict in the region.
One possible future development is that the Biden administration may increase its scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza and potentially impose consequences if Israel fails to take measures to safeguard civilians. This could lead to a shift in the US’s traditionally unwavering support for Israel and signal a more balanced approach to the conflict.
Furthermore, the Biden administration’s continued weapon transfers to Israel despite concerns about human rights abuses could face increasing backlash from human rights groups and the international community. This could put pressure on the US to reassess its military support for Israel and potentially limit or condition future arms sales.
Actionable Advice
Based on these insights, it is important for the Biden administration to continue to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza and push for meaningful measures to protect civilians and aid workers. This includes supporting independent investigations into incidents of civilian harm and advocating for international humanitarian law to be upheld.
Additionally, the US should consider reevaluating its military aid to Israel and ensuring that it is not used in ways that violate human rights or contribute to the escalation of violence in the region. This could involve more stringent oversight of arms transfers and conditioning aid on Israel’s adherence to international law and human rights standards.