Biden ‘warned Netanyahu US could turn on Israel and impose CONSEQUENCES if it fails to protect civilians in Gaza,’ days after IDF bombing killed seven aid workers
President Joe Biden essentially gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an ultimatum, reportedly warning that Israel must protect civilians in Gaza or face consequences.
Biden warned Netanyahu that Israel could lose US support if civilians were left injured and killed during an hours-long phone call on Thursday.
This was said by a senior government official CNN the president did not provide details on how he would consider changing U.S. policy if Israel does not implement it, but provided a list of changes that need to be made.
The source said Biden and Netanyahu had moments of disagreement over the call, but no “sparring” took place.
There are reportedly no follow-up talks currently planned between the two leaders, but on Friday morning Netanyahu’s office announced it will reopen a key border crossing into northern Gaza.
President Joe Biden effectively issued an ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday
He warned Netanyahu that Israel could lose American support if civilians were left injured and killed during an hours-long phone call
Sources said Biden and Netanyahu had moments of disagreement over the call, but there was no “sparring”
The Prime Minister’s Security Cabinet approved a series of “immediate steps”, including the temporary reopening of the Erez border crossing for the first time since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Israel also said it would allow its port in Ashdod to process aid shipments bound for Gaza, and allow an increase in Jordanian aid shipments through another border crossing.
“This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of fighting and achieve the war’s objectives,” Netanyahu’s office said.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the administration welcomed the move.
“As the President said on the call today, U.S. policy on Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these and other steps, including steps to protect innocent civilians and the safety of aid workers,” he said. she.
Biden is under pressure at home and abroad to do more to ensure civilian security in Gaza. And he was criticized for being angry behind the scenes but not expressing it publicly.
More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people.
A turning point for the president was the Israeli drone strike that killed seven workers at the World Central Kitchen, which was delivering food to starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Jacob Flickinger, 33, a dual citizen of America and Canada, was killed in the strike. He was a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan.
During their call Thursday, Biden also urged Netanyahu to call for an immediate ceasefire.
‘Underlining that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, he urged the Prime Minister to enable his negotiators to reach an agreement without delay to to bring hostages home,” the White House said in its statement. read out.
On Friday morning, Netanyahu’s office announced it will reopen a key border crossing into northern Gaza
More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people. Photo: A Palestinian father holds one of his children who was killed in a drone strike
A turning point for the president was the Israeli drone strike that killed workers at World Central Kitchen
The White House declined to say what specific steps they wanted to see, but made clear they wanted to see them quickly – within “hours and days.”
“President Biden emphasized that the attacks on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said.
“He made clear that Israel must announce and implement a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address harm to civilians, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that U.S. policy toward Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “There has to be tangible steps, let’s see what the Israelis announce, let’s see what they do.”
“We expect some announcements to come from Israel in the coming hours and days.”
He described Biden as “shocked” by the attack.
“We are looking for concrete steps to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza,” he said. ‘If there are no changes in their policies and approaches, there will have to be changes in ours too.’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Biden’s message.
“As for our policy in Gaza, look, I’ll just say this; If we don’t see the changes we need to see, there will be a change in our policies,” he said at a news conference in Brussels, where he was attending a NATO meeting.