President Joe Biden is lecturing the leader of the country that was attacked by Hamas, whose fighters killed more than 1,300 civilians in October, about what is and is not ‘acceptable humanitarianism’ during a war Israel didn’t start.
“President Biden delivered a blunt message Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: America’s patience with its ally’s campaign against Hamas terrorists in Gaza is not infinite,” the Washington Times reported.
In a White House statement regarding the initial conversation between the two leaders after an accidental Israeli airstrike earlier this week resulting in the deaths of seven international aid workers in the conflict-ridden Palestinian enclave, Biden conveyed to the prime minister that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was deemed “unacceptable.” He emphasized the necessity for Israel to undertake a series of “specific, concrete, and measurable steps” to minimize civilian casualties and ensure that such strikes are not repeated.
Biden “made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel‘s immediate action on these steps,” the White House said in its readout of the approximately 30-minute call.
“He underscored that an immediate cease-fire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the prime minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home,” the White House said.
“Biden, in the call, backed an immediate cease-fire in Gaza — something Israel has resisted — and told Mr. Netanyahu to empower his negotiators to cut a deal to bring home the estimated 100 or so hostages still held by Hamas,” the Times added.
Biden added that he does support Israel following threats by Iran after the Jewish state targeted and killed three high-ranking Iranian military officers in Syria.
Despite explicit warnings from Washington that the offensive could result in massive new civilian casualties, Netanyahu has stated that he is determined to pursue a major new military campaign against Hamas fighters who are holed up in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
