Biden Demands Israel Begin ‘Immediate Ceasefire’
In a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden demanded an “immediate ceasefire” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The call came after days of mounting pressure from world leaders and the American public to take a stance on the escalating violence in the region. In the call, Biden also threatened that the U.S. would reconsider its support for Israel if the demands for a ceasefire were not met.
Biden’s call for an immediate ceasefire comes as he faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the conflict. The President has been facing pressure from the progressive wing of his party and the Muslim community, who view his support for Israel as unwavering. With Trump trailing him in the polls, Biden may also be feeling pressure to shift his stance to appease this group of voters.
The White House released a readout of the call, stating that Biden had made it clear to Netanyahu that the “unacceptable” humanitarian situation in Gaza must be addressed. The readout also mentioned that Biden demanded “concrete and measurable steps” to be taken by Israel to address the civilian suffering and ensure the safety of aid workers in the region.
The conversation between the two leaders also touched upon the need for Israel to allow aid to flow into Gaza. However, Israel has expressed concerns about allowing aid to enter Gaza, as it could also lead to weapons falling into the hands of Hamas. In a delicate balancing act, Israel has been working to allow aid while ensuring the safety of its citizens.
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby: “We’re looking for concrete steps to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza…If there’s no changes to their policy and their approaches then there’s going to have to be changes to ours.” pic.twitter.com/VTYscchJ9J
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 4, 2024
The readout also confirmed that Biden had threatened Israel with a change in U.S. support if the demands were not met. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby reiterated this in the White House press briefing, stating that if Israel did not change its approach, there will have to be changes in the U.S. as well. This marks a shift from Biden’s previous stance of unwavering support for Israel and highlights the pressure he is facing to take a stronger stance.
The shift in Biden’s stance also comes on the heels of a report in The New York Times, where First Lady Jill Biden was quoted as saying, “Stop it, stop it now, Joe,” in reference to the airstrikes in Gaza. The First Lady’s comments highlight the role she may be playing in the President’s decision-making process. They also come after reports of civilian casualties in Gaza, including the tragic death of aid workers in an Israeli airstrike.
In response to the airstrike that killed several aid workers, Netanyahu released a statement expressing his regret and promising to investigate the incident. He also stated that Israel would do everything in its power to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. The incident highlights the challenges Israel faces in conducting airstrikes while minimizing civilian casualties.
While Biden has been vocal in calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, his response to another tragic incident remains muted. During the U.S.’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, a drone strike killed 10 innocent Afghan civilians, including seven children. The airstrike occurred while U.S. forces were on high alert after a terrorist attack at the Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. troops. Biden has faced criticism for not responding to the incident, highlighting the complexities of conducting airstrikes.