President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. policy in Gaza could change if the Israeli military doesn’t do more to improve the humanitarian situation.
During a phone call with his Israeli counterpart on Thursday, Biden stressed that Israel’s strikes on “humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” according to a White House readout of the call.
The same sentiment was echoed later Thursday by both Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, with Blinken telling reporters that the U.S. would shift gears “if we don’t see the changes that we need to see,” according to a report from the Jerusalem Post.
Meanwhile, Kirby warned that the changes in Israeli policy needed to change within “hours and days” and that the administration was expecting an announcement soon from Israel.
“The President made very clear his concerns and the prime minister acknowledged those concerns,” Kirby said.
According to the White House readout of the call, Biden stressed the need for an “immediate cease-fire,” arguing such a move would be “essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.”
The 30-minute call came after seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli airstrikes this week, adding to growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza as Israel’s siege on the small strip of land has continued for over five months.
The two leaders also discussed Iranian threats against Israel, with the White House stressing that Biden “made clear that the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.”
Meanhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Thursday she would move to block the sale of F-15s to Israel after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this week.
“I think it is clear that Congress has a responsibility to act. We have legal tools here. And as I said, we cannot approve the sale of arms to a country that is in violation of our own laws on this. And that includes access to humanitarian relief,” Warren said Thursday during an interview on “CNN News Central.”
“This is a moral question; it is also a legal question. Congress has responsibility here, and I’m willing to take that responsibility,” she added.
Seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen were killed Monday while leaving a warehouse in central Gaza, where they delivered more than 100 tons of food aid. They were in two armored cars when the strike hit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took responsibility Tuesday for the deadly strike and said it was a “tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip.”
The strike came as the U.S. weighs a major new arms sale to Israel. The U.S. government is considering selling Israel up to 50 new F-15 fighter jets, 30 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, equipment that can alter dumb bombs into precision-guided weapons.
Asked if she is considering putting legislation on the floor to block arms sales to Israel, Warren said, “Actually, let’s put this in a slightly different context. We already have an established U.S. policy here.”
CNN anchor Kate Bolduan interjected and asked the Massachusetts Democrat how this policy is enforced and prevents President Biden from approving the sale.
