American President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Discuss Civilian Harm and Humanitarian Suffering
The White House announced that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had their first phone discussion since the Israeli strikes that resulted in the deaths of employees from the US-based charity, World Central Kitchen. The leaders focused on addressing civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.
Biden emphasized that US policy towards Gaza would be determined by Israel’s immediate action on these issues. The White House stated that Israel needs to announce and implement specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.
Israel Takes Responsibility for Strikes, Promises Investigation
Israel has taken responsibility for the strikes that caused the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers. However, the country maintains that the convoy was not deliberately targeted and the fatalities were unintentional. An investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The strikes, which included a dual US-Canadian citizen among the casualties, have sparked backlash within the Biden administration. President Biden explicitly criticized Israel for failing to protect aid workers and civilians in Gaza. He expressed outrage over the deaths and emphasized the need for Israel to do more to safeguard those delivering humanitarian aid.
The Ongoing Conflict and its Impact
The war in Gaza began on October 7th of last year after militants, led by Hamas, infiltrated southern Israel. The conflict has resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties, predominantly civilians, and around 250 hostages. The deaths of aid workers have made it challenging to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza, with President Biden highlighting the need for increased protection for those delivering crucial assistance to civilians.
