Joe Biden says Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza policy is “wrong” and urges Israel to call for a ceasefire.
The comments come after a long period of rising tension due to the civilian death toll and dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
– I think what he is doing is wrong. I don’t agree with his approach, Biden told Univision, a Spanish-language television channel in the United States, when asked about Netanyahu’s handling of the war, according to the Reuters news agency.
The US president reiterates that the Israeli drone attack that killed seven aid workers from the organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) last week was “outrageous”.
Among those killed was a person with both American and Canadian citizenship. The attacks were strongly condemned internationally, and Israel referred to the attack as “a serious mistake”.
One of the cars from World Central Kitchen that was attacked by Israeli forces. Seven employees were killed.
Photo: AP
Asking for a ceasefire
Biden also asks Israel to establish a ceasefire.
– I encourage the Israelis to ask for a ceasefire, and during the next six, eight weeks to give full access to all food and medicine entering the country, says Biden.
His statements about the ceasefire mark a change from previous comments, where he has said that it is Hamas that must agree to a ceasefire and agreement on the release of hostages.
Biden is also putting further pressure on Israel to get them to let in more emergency aid.
– There is no excuse for not meeting the medical and food needs of these people. It should be done now, he says.
Last week, Israel again approved the opening of the Erez border crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip and the temporary use of the Ashdod port in southern Israel for emergency aid deliveries.
It happened after an increasingly critical USA asked Israel to take concrete measures to ensure that more emergency aid arrives in the Gaza Strip.
In recent months, Israel has allowed very little in the way of emergency aid deliveries to the north of the Gaza Strip. In addition, far too little has come in to cover the needs in the rest of the Palestinian area.
This has led to widespread food shortages and hunger, and the situation is particularly precarious in the north.
The UN warned last month that famine in northern Gaza is “almost inevitable”.
The Erez crossing has been closed since it was destroyed during the October 7 attack on Israel.
Over 1.5 million Palestinians who have sought refuge from the war in Rafah, and many live in tented camps.
Photo: AFP
Missing plan for civilians in Rafah
The US is also critical of the fact that Israel has still not presented a convincing plan for how to protect the civilian population in Rafah during the expected ground invasion.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan says that Israel has not described in detail how the civilians will be housed and receive medical treatment and that he has so far not seen a “convincing and feasible plan” for the evacuation and resettlement of the population in Rafah.
Israel says it plans to evacuate the civilian population from the city, and anonymous Israeli officials said on Monday that 40,000 tents have been purchased for the refugees.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Defense, there will be room for 12 people per tent, which will mean temporary shelter for around 480,000 people in Rafah, which is estimated to be a refuge for over 1.5 million people.
The US, which is Israel’s main ally, has repeatedly warned Israel against a large-scale offensive in Rafah. Strong warnings have also come from several other countries.
However, Netanyahu says a date for the invasion has already been set.
– There is no power in the world that can stop us. There are many forces that are trying, but it does not help, since this enemy, after what it has done, will never be allowed to do it again, he said on Tuesday.
Published 10.04.2024, at 07.04 Updated 10.04.2024, at 07.14
2024-04-10 05:04:06
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