Biden and Netanyahu Hold First Talks Following Israeli Strike on Gaza Aid Workers

President Joe Biden and ****Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to have their first conversation since Israel carried out a deadly strike on a convoy of aid workers in Gaza, as confirmed by a US official.

Israel has accepted that they were behind the strikes, although they maintain that the convoy was not their intended target and the deaths of the aid workers were unintentional. The country is currently conducting an investigation into the incident.

The recent strikes resulted in the deaths of seven workers from World Central Kitchen, one of whom was a dual US-Canadian citizen. This tragic event has caused concern within the Biden White House, despite the administration's continued support for Israel remaining steadfast.

In response to the strikes, President Biden issued a statement on Tuesday holding Israel responsible for not ensuring the safety of aid workers and civilians in Gaza. He expressed his outrage over the loss of the World Central Kitchen workers, stating that such incidents should never occur.

Despite the recent strikes, the relationship between Israel and the United States, its largest ally, remains strong. In fact, President Biden is planning to approve an $18 billion sale of fighter jets from the US to Israel. Additionally, the administration has given the green light for the transfer of over 1,000 500-pound bombs and over 1,000 small-diameter bombs to Israel.

President Biden has urged for a temporary ceasefire, which includes the release of hostages held by Hamas. He has also expressed his opposition to Israel launching a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, where many displaced Gazans have sought refuge. However, he has not yet called for a permanent ceasefire.

Biden’s reluctance to join other world leaders in their actions and statements is becoming more noticeable. Many US allies have already taken a stand.

Last month, Biden criticized Netanyahu, stating that he was doing more harm than good for Israel. In response, Netanyahu disagreed with Biden's assessment of Israel's actions in Gaza.

While Biden has criticized Netanyahu's approach to the war, the message of Biden's support for Israel has remained consistent after the recent deadly strikes.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasized that although there are concerns about the conduct of operations, the US still supports Israel's right to defend itself against the ongoing threat posed by Hamas. Kirby reiterated that Israel has the responsibility to protect its people and eliminate the threat from Hamas.

“And so,” he added, “that support for Israel continues.”

Editor's P/S:

The recent deadly strikes on a convoy of aid workers in Gaza have raised serious concerns and highlighted the ongoing tensions between Israel and its critics. While Israel maintains that the strikes were unintentional, the loss of innocent lives has sparked outrage and condemnation. President Biden's response has been cautious, balancing support for Israel with the need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Despite the administration's continued support for Israel, Biden's criticism of Netanyahu's actions and his reluctance to join other world leaders in calling for a permanent ceasefire have raised questions about the future of US-Israel relations. The Biden administration's approval of weapons sales to Israel suggests that the alliance remains strong, but the recent events have strained the relationship and exposed deep divisions over Israel's conduct in Gaza.