US officials tell NBC News that, during their phone call on Thursday, Biden warned Netanyahu that the US could condition military aid to Israel on what it does to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
By Elad Benari, ARUTZ SHEVA Apr 5, 2024, 12:16 AM (GMT+3)
Netanyahu and BidenAvi Ohayon/GPO
US President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their call on Thursday that the US could condition military aid to Israel on what it does to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and get to a ceasefire as soon as possible, NBC News reported, citing two US officials.
“That was the message,” one of the officials said.
The two US officials said Biden told Netanyahu to begin letting more trucks carrying humanitarian aid into Gaza immediately and to be less stringent about what materials are on them.
The White House said in a readout following Thursday’s call that 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. He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
Asked to elaborate on potential policy changes the White House hinted at in the readout, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a press briefing that he wouldn’t preview specific steps that the US might take.
“What we are looking to see and hope to see here in the coming hours and days is a dramatic increase in the humanitarian assistance getting [into Gaza], additional crossings opened up and a reduction in the violence against civilians and certainly aid workers,” Kirby said, according to NBC News, adding that they want to see Israel “take practical immediate steps to protect aid workers on the ground and to demonstrate that they have that civilian harm mitigation in place.”
“There are too many civilians being killed,” Kirby said. “The risk to aid workers is unacceptable. Now we have certain aid organizations that are reconsidering whether they’re even going to be able to continue operations in Gaza, while famine looms, so there has to be tangible steps. Let’s see what they announce, let’s see what they direct, let’s see what they do.”
On Wednesday, Politico reported that the Biden administration has no plans to change its policy toward Israel after the IDF air strike which killed seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.
Biden was privately enraged by the deadly strike and in a public statement on Tuesday upbraided Israel for it, calling for “accountability” to those responsible and demanding more humanitarian assistance be allowed into Gaza. But two senior administration officials told Politico that is as far as he and the White House will go for now.
“That’s all we have planned,” said one of the officials.
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US welcomes increase of aid to Gaza: These steps must be implemented
US National Security Council spokesperson welcomes Israel’s decision to approve measures to increase the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We welcome the steps announced by the Israeli government tonight at the President’s request following his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” said US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
“These steps, including a commitment to open the Ashdod port for the direct delivery of assistance into Gaza, to open the Erez crossing for a new route for assistance to reach north Gaza, and to significantly increase deliveries from Jordan directly into Gaza, must now be fully and rapidly implemented,” she added.
“As the President said today on the call, US policy with respect to 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,” said Watson.
White House spokesperson John Kirby also welcomed the Israeli government’s decision in an interview with CNN.
Kirby said that if true, the opening of the crossing would be “welcome news” and “certainly in keeping” with what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden in their call earlier in the day.
The Political-Security Cabinet earlier announced that it had authorized Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz to take immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
“In light of this, Israel will allow the temporary delivery of humanitarian aid through Ashdod and the Erez Crossing and the increase of Jordanian aid through Kerem Shalom,” it added.
The Cabinet meeting took place hours after a phone call between Netanyahu and Biden.
The White House said in a readout following Thursday’s call that 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. He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
Two US officials who spoke to NBC News following the conversation said that Biden warned Netanyahu that the US could condition military aid to Israel on what it does to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and get to a ceasefire as soon as possible.
OK. Netanyahu buckled and agreed to allow humanitarian help into the Gaza Strip. That means that Gamas can concentrate its weapons imports through the Sinai route. Wonderful news!
If he doesn’t pinch this corridor closed and soon, it will not have been worth the trouble and the rockets will continue.