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President Biden has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to work towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza. This comes in response to a recent incident where an Israeli strike resulted in the deaths of several humanitarian aid workers, an action Biden described as “unacceptable.”
During a conversation with Netanyahu, Biden emphasized the necessity for Israel to take specific, measurable steps to mitigate civilian and humanitarian worker casualties. In a statement, the White House said, “The two leaders discussed the situation in Gaza. President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable. He 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. He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He 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. 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.”

This comes as the US has been advocating for a six-week ceasefire to enable the evacuation of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The delay in reaching a ceasefire agreement has been attributed to Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, which the US identifies as a terrorist organization. White House spokesperson John Kirby expressed the administration’s expectation that both parties negotiate to settle immediately.
This call marks a potential shift in US policy towards the Israel-Hamas conflict, which escalated last October following a deadly attack by Hamas. Despite previous reluctance to adjust support for Israel, recent events, including the strike on World Central Kitchen workers, have prompted calls for a thorough investigation and a reevaluation of US stance.