Biden tells Israel future support depends on steps taken to protect civilians

President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that future US support for Israels Gaza war depends on the swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workersBiden and Netanyahus roughly 30minute call just days after Israeli airstrikes killed seven food aid workers in Gaza added a new layer of complication to the leaders increasingly strained relationshipBidens message marks a sharp change in his administrations steadfast support for Israels war efforts with the US leader for the first time threatening to rethink his backing if Israel doesnt change its tactics and allow much more humanitarian aid into GazaThe White House would not specify what could change about US policy but it could include altering military sales to Israel and Americas diplomatic backup on the world stage Administration officials said they expected the Israelis to make announcements on next steps within hours or days and that the US would then assess whether the Israeli moves go far enoughBiden 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 the White House said in a statement following the leaders call He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israels immediate action on these stepsBiden also told Netanyahu that an immediate ceasefire is essential and urged Israel to reach such an accord without delay according to the White HouseThe leaders conversation comes as the World Central Kitchen founded by restauranteur Joseacute Andreacutes to provide immediate food relief to disasterstricken areas called for an independent investigation into the Israeli strikes that killed the groups staff members including an American citizenThe White House has said the US has no plans to conduct its own investigation even as it called on Israel to do more to prevent the harming of innocent civilians and aid workers as it carries out its operations in GazaSeparately Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Brussels that US support would be curtailed if Israel doesnt make significant adjustments to how its carrying out the war If we dont see the changes that we need to see there will be changes in our policy he saidWhite House national security spokesman John Kirby echoed the call for tangible and concrete changes to be taken by the Israelis beyond reiterating long stated calls for allowing additional aid to get into GazaIf theres no changes to their policy in their approaches then theres going to have to be changes to ours Kirby said There are things that need to be done There are too many civilians being killedThe demands for Israel to bring the conflict to a swift close were increasing across the political spectrum with former President Donald Trump the Republicans presumptive nominee to face Biden this fall saying Thursday that Israel was absolutely losing the PR war and calling for a resolution to the bloodshedGet it over with and lets get back to peace and stop killing people And thats a very simple statement Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt They have to get it done Get it over with and get it over with fast because we have to you have to get back to normalcy and peaceBiden also renewed his concerns about Netanyahus plan to carry out an operation in the southern city of Rafah where about 15 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas following the militant groups deadly October 7 attack Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the callStill the Biden administration has proceeded apace with arms transfers and deliveries to Israel many of which were approved years ago but had only been partially or not at all fulfilled Just this week on Monday the Democratic administrations Daily List of munitions transfers included the sale to Israel of more than 1000 500pound 225kilograms bombs and more than 1000 1000pound 450kilogram bombsOfficials said those transfers had been approved before the publication of the list on Monday the day Israeli airstrikes hit a World Central Kitchen aid convoy in Gaza killing seven of the groups employees and that they fell below the threshold for new congressional notification Also they noted that the bombs are not for delivery to Israel until 2025Israel has acknowledged responsibility for the strikes but said the convoy was not targeted and the workers deaths were not intentional The country continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killingsAndreacutes harshly criticised the Israeli military for the strike and his organization has paused its work in GazaThe Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid stop killing civilians and aid workers and stop using food as a weapon he wrote on X No more innocent lives lostThe war in Gaza began when Hamasled militants stormed into southern Israel killing some 1200 people mostly civilians and taking around 250 people hostageThe Israeli military campaign in Gaza experts say is among the deadliest and most destructive in recent history Within two months researchers say the offensive already has wreaked more destruction than the razing of Syrias Aleppo between 2012 and 2016 Ukraines Mariupol or proportionally the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II It has killed more civilians than the USled coalition did in its threeyear campaign against the Islamic State groupThis 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