Biden to Netanyahu: Immediate ceasefire needed to stabilize humanitarian situation, protect civilians
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Joe Biden tells Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas, sparked by the terror group’s October 7 onslaught.
Biden underscored “that an immediate ceasefire 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,” according to a White House readout.
Biden also indicates to Netanyahu during the call that Washington’s policy regarding the war in Gaza will fundamentally change if Israel doesn’t implement a series of concrete steps to address the humanitarian crisis and protect aid workers.
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 readout added.
The call between the two leaders was the first since an IDF strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy killed seven aid workers earlier this week.
“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” the White House says, adding that both recent Israeli strikes on aid workers along with the overall humanitarian situation in the Strip are “unacceptable.”
The line indicates a further step toward a US position that detaches its demand for an immediate ceasefire from its demand from Hamas to free the remaining hostages. Previous US statements have been more clear that the only way to secure a ceasefire is by Hamas agreeing to release the hostages.
The statement also points to US displeasure with Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage talks, suggesting that he has not been empowering Israel’s negotiating team to reach a deal with Hamas.
The US readout adds that “the two leaders also discussed public Iranian threats against Israel and the Israeli people. President Biden made clear that the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.”
