Biden’s Ultimatum to Israel: Protect Civilians or Risk U.S. Backing

Biden talks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
“Decision to support depends on civilian protection policies”
Possible policy shift from unilateral support
Repeatedly emphasizes the need for a ceasefire

U.S. President Joe Biden has mentioned the possibility of a change in policy towards Israel. It is a warning that support could be withdrawn if measures to protect civilians are not implemented.

John Kirby, United States National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, briefed on the conversation between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 4th (local time), outlining the main points of their dialogue.

According to the White House website, President Biden told Prime Minister Netanyahu in a phone call that “although the U.S. has actively supported Israel, there will be changes in the U.S. policy towards Israel if immediate measures are not taken to protect civilians and others during the war between Israel and Hamas.”

This is interpreted as the U.S. giving Israel an ultimatum following the car bombing incident involving the Israeli army, which resulted in the deaths of seven relief workers, including American citizens, on the 1st at the World Central Kitchen (WCK) international relief organization.

President Biden was quoted as saying that the car bombing disaster in Israel, linked to the deaths of seven relief workers, is “unacceptable.”

Kirby further stated that President Biden emphasized the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of concrete and substantive measures to address civilian casualties, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of relief workers.

Kirby also relayed that President Biden made it clear that U.S. policy towards the Gaza Strip will be determined by the evaluation of Israel’s immediate actions related to these measures.

Kirby stated, “What we want to see are some substantive changes from the Israeli side,” adding that they want to see immediate actions such as a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid heading to Gaza and a reduction in violence against civilians and international relief organizations “in the next few hours or days.”

In response to a reporter’s question about whether this was President Biden’s ultimatum, Kirby explained, “The President has expressed serious concerns about the direction things are heading,” and “We made it clear that we are willing to reconsider our policy approach depending on what the Israelis would do and not do.”