Biden Calls on Israel to Alleviate Humanitarian Crisis Amid Growing Pressure
President Biden, along with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has been urging Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They have underscored the potential dire consequences for Israel’s Defense Forces operations against Hamas if support continues to erode.
Recent Israeli airstrikes on a refugee camp in northern Gaza have deeply troubled President Biden and his national security team. The destruction and loss of life resulting from these strikes have amplified the criticism, not only from detractors but also from Israel’s allies.
While President Biden has not set any red lines for Israel, he has expressed concern to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the images of Palestinian women and children being pulled from the rubble. Biden warned Netanyahu that these images could limit Israel’s ability to proceed further with its current operation.
President Biden has increased his calls, along with top national security officials, for humanitarian pauses in the fighting. These pauses, distinct from a ceasefire, would allow hostages held by Hamas to be released from Gaza and enable aid to reach the region. Moreover, Biden has urged Israel to ensure phone and internet connectivity, permit the entry of fuel and water into Gaza, and curb violence in the West Bank.
During their phone conversations, Biden has pushed Netanyahu on specific actions such as increasing the number of aid trucks into Gaza, facilitating the departure of foreign nationals from Gaza, and curbing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected calls for a temporary ceasefire unless Hamas releases all the hostages it holds.
As the conflict persists, President Biden and his administration continue to exert pressure on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis while balancing the complexities of the situation. The international community closely watches as efforts to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians intensify. The urgency to find a resolution grows, considering the increasing calls for a ceasefire and the mounting human toll of the conflict.
