“In the coming HOURS & DAYS, we will be looking for concrete, tangible steps that they’re taking” - WH spox John Kirby
The call between the 2 leaders came 3 days after 7 workers from the José Andrés-run #WCK were killed by an Israeli strike on a clearly marked convoy, igniting outrage in the #UnitedStates & abroad. #POTUS held the call w/ #Netanyahu specifically because of the deadly strikes, Kirby said, adding that #Biden was “shaken” by the attack.
In Thur’s call, #Biden “made clear the need for #Israel to announce & implement a series of specific, concrete, & measurable steps to address #civilian harm, #humanitarian suffering, & the safety of #AidWorkers,” acc/to a WH summary of the call. “He made clear that #UnitedStates policy w/respect to #Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
It marked the 1st time #Biden has indicated a willingness to reassess his unwavering support of #Israel’s campaign in #Gaza, as pressure grows among prominent #Democrats to condition #weapons sales to Israel as the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 32k, acc/to the Gaza Health Ministry. #POTUS’ rhetoric has grown increasingly sharp regarding Israel’s handling of the crisis, but until now he had not directly warned Israel of #consequences if it does not change course.
Sec of State #Blinken reiterated the msg in Brussels on Thurs. & Sen #ChrisCoons, a close #Biden ally & a staunch supporter of #Israel, said the #UnitedStates is “at that point” where #conditions must be placed on #MilitaryAid to Israel.
The changing dynamic comes as Israel plans to invade the southern #Gaza city of #Rafah, where up to 1.5M #Palestinians are sheltering in decrepit conditions after fleeing there under Israeli orders. #US ofcls have warned Israel against a major campaign in Rafah.
“If #Netanyahu were to order the [#IDF] into #Rafah at scale …& make no provision for #civilians or for #HumanitarianAid, I would vote to condition #aid to #Israel. I’ve never said that before. I’ve never been here before,”Coons said.
…Among the changes #Biden wants to see…are “a dramatic increase in #humanitarian aid getting in, additional crossings opened up, & a reduction in #violence against #civilians.”
#Biden added that the #UnitedStates expected to see #Israel not just “announcing” changes, but “executing” & “implementing” them.
The WH summary of the Biden - #Netanyahu call added that #POTUS had told the Israeli prime minister that the #humanitarian situation in #Gaza was “unacceptable” & had called for an “immediate #ceasefire.”
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