Biden calls for humanitarian ''pause'' in Israel-Hamas war

President Joe Biden said he thought there should be a humanitarian pause in the IsraelHamas war after his campaign speech Wednesday evening was interrupted by a protester calling for a ceasefire I think we need a pause Biden saidThe call was a subtle departure for Biden and top White House aides who throughout the Mideast crisis have been steadfast in stating they will not dictate how the Israelis carry out their military operations in response to the October 7 attack by HamasBut the president has faced intensifying pressure from human rights groups fellow world leaders and even liberal members of his own Democratic Party who say that the Israeli bombardment of Gaza is collective punishment and that it is time for a ceasefireIn his comments Biden was exerting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Palestinians at least a brief reprieve from the relentless military operation thats left thousands dead and mired the 141squaremile strip in a roiling humanitarian crisisThe White House has refused to call for a ceasefire but has signaled that the Israelis should consider humanitarian pauses to allow civilians to receive aid and for foreign nationals trapped on the strip to leave GazaIsraeli ground troops have advanced near Gaza City in heavy fighting with militants the military said on Wednesday Meanwhile hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza after more than three weeks under siegeThe first people to leave Gaza other than four hostages released by Hamas and another rescued by Israeli forces crossed into Egypt escaping even as bombings drive hundreds of thousands from their homes and food water and fuel run lowWhite House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said earlier on Wednesday that Bidens newly confirmed ambassador to Israel Jack Lew would soon be dispatched to the Middle East and would be tasked in part with supporting US efforts to create the conditions for a humanitarian pause to address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing Palestinian civiliansIsraeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog told The Hill on NewsNation Wednesday we dont need urging in response to calls for more aid for Gaza We are ramping up humanitarian supplies into Gaza in those areas which are away from Hamas in the southern part of Gaza The number of truckloads doubles and is going to pick up more and more he said We provide water We provide other types of suppliesHe said to NewsNation they were happy to see foreigners leave Gaza So we dont need urging urging in that sense Our Cabinet discussed this week this issue and decided there are no limitations as long as we can make sure that Hamas does not put its hands on humanitarian supplies and uses them to feed its war machine That will not happen Short of that everything is openOn Wednesday evening Biden was speaking to a crowd of supporters in Minneapolis about his reasons for running for president in 2020 when a woman got up and yelled Mr President if you care about Jewish people as a rabbi I need you to call for a ceasefire His presence in the city drew more than 1000 demonstrators not far from where the fundraiser was held and they carried Palestinian flags and signs that said Stop Bombing Children Free Palestine and Ceasefire nowBiden said he understood the emotions motivating the demonstrator who was quickly shouted down by others in the room and removed He said when asked that a pause means give time to get the prisoners out White House officials later clarified he meant hostages and humanitarian aid This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis Biden went on Its incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well I supported a twostate solution I have from the very beginningThe fact of the matter is that Hamas is a terrorist organization A flatout terrorist organization he said But Biden noted that hes been working on humanitarian aid saying he was the one who convinced both Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah elSissi to allow aid into Gaza Im the guy he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever