Israel Makes First Gestures to Biden, Agrees to Aid Gaza
In a significant move by Israel, the country has made its first gestures towards President Biden by agreeing to use the Ashdod port to direct aid into Gaza. This decision comes after a private call between Mr. Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, where additional commitments were made to assuage the president.
Among the commitments made by Israel are the opening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza for the first time since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, and a significant increase in deliveries from Jordan. Additionally, Israel has promised to institute more measures to reduce civilian casualties and to empower negotiators brokering a temporary cease-fire deal in exchange for the release of hostages.
The Biden administration has been clear that Israel needs to do more to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken emphasized the importance of this during a call between the president and prime minister, stating that “an immediate cease-fire is essential.”
While President Biden has long supported Israel, there is growing pressure, particularly from the political left, for the U.S. to exercise more control over the weaponry provided to Israel. Some Democratic allies, including Senator Chris Coons, have expressed support for conditioning aid to Israel if certain conditions are not met.
In response to these pressures, Mr. Netanyahu has remained steadfast in his position, pushing back against calls for a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict. He also highlighted the threat he sees from Iran, stating that Israel will defend itself against any attacks.
Despite these differences in opinion, the White House statement following the call between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu emphasized the strong support of the United States for Israel against Iranian threats. The statement also urged the prime minister to empower negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home.
Overall, the reported agreement between Israel and the U.S. marks a significant step towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and working towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
