WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden told Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that future U.S. support for Gaza war depends on new steps to protect civilians and aid workers.
Biden and Netanyahu spoke by phone after Israeli airstrikes killed seven food aid workers in Gaza, complicating their strained relationship.
“He emphasized the need for Israel to announce and implement specific, concrete, and measurable measures to reduce harm to civilians, alleviate humanitarian suffering, and ensure the safety of aid workers,” the White House said in a statement following the leaders call. “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.”
Biden also urged Netanyahu in the call to seek an “immediate ceasefire” and reach a deal “without delay,” according to the White House.
The leaders conversation comes as the World Central Kitchen, founded by restauranteur José Andrés to provide immediate food relief to disaster-stricken areas, called for an independent investigation into the Israeli strikes that killed the group’s staff members, including an American citizen.
The White House has said the U.S. has no plans to conduct its own investigation even as they called on Israel to do more to prevent the killing and wounding innocent civilians and aid workers as it carries out its operations in Gaza.
The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.
