Joe Biden warns Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that US support depends on Gaza civilian protection
- The US president gave his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after the killing of 7 aid workers in an Israeli strike
- Biden is facing growing pressure in an election year over his support for Israel’s Gaza war – including from first lady Jill Biden
US President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday that United States policy on Israel depends on the protection of civilians in Gaza, in his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.
In their first call since the deaths of the employees of the US-based World Central Kitchen group on Monday, Biden also called for an “immediate ceasefire” after the “unacceptable” attack and wider humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Democrat Biden is facing growing pressure in an election year over his support for Israel’s Gaza war – with allies pressing him to consider making the billions of dollars in military aid sent by the United States to its key ally each year dependent on Netanyahu listening to calls for restraint.
Biden “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”, the White House said in a readout of the call.
“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”