While some in Israel described Thursday’s call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "positive," the White House's readout of the conversation left no room for doubt.
The statement included some stern remarks for Israel, including an ultimatum following the inadvertent killing of aid workers in the Gaza Strip and the territory’s overall humanitarian situation.
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U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP, Reuters/Amir Cohen)
The White House statement hinted more than subtly that Washington might pull its support for Israel as the war rages on. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby later made similar comments.
In essence, the White House issued what amounts to an ultimatum to Israel. “U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
The White House readout makes no mention of arms shipments to Israel, but two U.S. officials told NBC on Thursday that Biden "strongly hinted" in his call with Netanyahu that Washington might condition its military aid to Israel based on actions it requires from it in the humanitarian field, as well as regarding the promotion of an immediate cease-fire. "That was the message," said one of the sources.
For some time, Biden has resisted the growing calls within his Democratic camp to limit weapons shipments. On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration had signed off an additional 2,000 bombs to be sent to Israel.
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World Central Kitchen workers handing out food in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip
(Photo: from X)
However, the authorization was given a few hours before an IDF attack that killed seven workers from the international aid group World Central Kitchen in the central Gaza Strip’s Deir al-Balah.
The attack, made on a mistaken identification that also killed an American-Canadian citizen as well as citizens from Britain, Poland, and Australia, sparked global outrage toward Israel and is now increasing international pressure on it.
“President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House readout further read.
“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 U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps."
The White House statement included a call for an immediate cease-fire that apparently is not conditioned on the release of hostages, a break from its previous statements. However, Biden did later link the cease-fire to the release of hostages in an X post.
Meanwhile, Secretary Blinken essentially suggested at a press conference in Brussels Thursday that American support could be compromised if Israel does not make significant changes in how it conducts the war. "If we don't see the changes that we need to see, there will be changes in our own policy," he said, without providing further details.
(Video: Reuters)
Kirby conveyed an increasing level of exasperation, outlining the specific actions the U.S. anticipates from Israel, which include the introduction of more aid into Gaza through land crossings, minimizing civilian casualties and effective coordination for the safety of aid workers.
Kirby said the U.S. will evaluate its approach to Israel based on the latter's policy adjustments and execution of commitments. Emphasizing the need for action beyond statements, Kirby warned that the U.S. is prepared to change its stance if Israel does not alter its policy.
End to the war?
The call also dealt with negotiations for a hostage exchange deal. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan announced that the terror group effectively rejected the new proposal formulated in Cairo. However, Biden urged Netanyahu to accept the deal, even as Hamas communicated to mediators its rejection of the proposal.
The White House statement indicated that Biden “urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home.”
As Biden is facing growing pressure for his support of Israel’s war effort, some top pollsters say the 81-year-old is trailing his Republican opponent Donald Trump ahead of the presidential election in November.
However, the White House readout further stated that “[t]he 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.”