Israel vows more Gaza aid after Biden warning
Biden threatened to change U.S. policy on Gaza if civilians were not protected
What happened
Israel announced "immediate steps" to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza late Thursday, hours after President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that without increased aid and reduced civilian harm, the White House might change its policy on Israel's Gaza war.
Who said what
Biden said Israel's "strikes on humanitarian workers" are "unacceptable" and demanded immediate, "specific, concrete and measurable steps" to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, The White House said. "If we don't see changes from their side, there will be changes from our side," national security spokesperson John Kirby said.
The commentary
"The U.S. had asked Israel to implement those steps months ago but Netanyahu" balked "under pressure from his political base and ultranationalist members of his coalition to limit aid into Gaza," Barak Ravid said at Axios. Israel's deadly strike on World Central Kitchen workers prompted previously unseen "outrage" in the White House. The "tense 30-minute call" with Netanyahu was the first time Biden "leveraged U.S. aid to influence the conduct of the war against Hamas," The New York Times said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Israel said it will open the Erez crossing in northern Gaza and allow significantly more aid trucks from Jordan, among other changes. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the White House welcomes Israel's announced steps, and they "must now be fully and rapidly implemented."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Costa Rica's renewable energy success could be under threat
Under the radar Central American nation generates nearly all its electricity from renewable sources but climate change is bringing huge challenges
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is NASA working on?
In Depth A running list of the space agency's most exciting developments
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'Presidential debates are more performance art than actual ways to inform'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Presidential debates are more performance art than actual ways to inform'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published