Biden Urges Netanyahu to Increase Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Amid Escalating Conflict Concerns
President Joe Biden urges Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, signaling urgency amid escalating conflict Over 100 trucks per day may soon deliver vital supplies to the enclave
President Joe Biden's administration is urging Israel to increase aid to Gaza and restore internet connectivity to the region. This is part of an effort to address the growing humanitarian crisis and alleviate concerns of a potential regional conflict. During Biden's first phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the start of Israel's expanded ground operation in Gaza, the president emphasized the importance of immediately and substantially increasing humanitarian assistance for the civilians in Gaza, as stated in a White House summary of the call.
The number of trucks entering the strip could increase to as many as 100 per day, according to a senior Israeli official who spoke to CNN. The situation has escalated into a dire humanitarian crisis due to Israel's intensified assault, resulting in a severe shortage of food, water, and medicine, as reported by aid agencies.
In addition to concerns about the humanitarian situation, there is private pressure from the United States to address these concerns, driven by fears of a potential regional conflict. High-ranking US officials have warned of an "elevated risk" of a spillover war. As the assault on Gaza by Israel continues, there is mounting global pressure, including discussions at the United Nations on Monday, to call for a pause in the fighting.
American officials are closely monitoring any indications of waning backing for Israel, both domestically and internationally, taking into consideration the potential impact on Iran and other regional entities.
Additionally, the administration is encountering mounting demands to display greater empathy towards Palestinians, with certain members of the progressive wing of Biden's party intensifying their pressure on him to endorse a ceasefire in order to prevent further devastation in Gaza.
White House officials have categorically dismissed the idea of endorsing a ceasefire and have refrained from voicing any critique, whether direct or indirect, of Israel's military operations. Instead, they refer to intermittent challenging discussions conducted privately, akin to those between friends, regarding the crucial significance of humanitarian assistance and safeguarding civilian lives. "We engage in conversations, much like friends do, addressing the difficult questions... discussing matters related to humanitarian aid," remarked US national security adviser Jake Sullivan during a Sunday interview on CBS.
Sullivan is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman on Monday. Khalid bin Salman is the brother of the powerful crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who is currently in Washington for talks. Saudi Arabia has expressed concerns about a large-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza, as it has the potential to escalate into a broader regional conflict.
According to a reliable source, US officials anticipate that around 100 aid trucks will start entering Gaza each day in the coming days. This is possible because Israel has agreed to expedite the inspections of these convoys, which carry crucial humanitarian assistance.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, announced on Sunday that there would be an imminent increase in the provision of aid.
"We are currently in the process of intensifying the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Within the next couple of days, there will be up to 100 trucks per day transporting supplies to Gaza," Herzog informed Wolf Blitzer on CNN.
Herzog stated that Israel was closely collaborating with United Nations agencies and the US government to offer enhanced humanitarian solutions for the on-site issues. He emphasized that they were aware of the problem areas and were dedicatedly working to resolve them, considering it both their responsibility and in their best interest.
On Monday, CNN's Poppy Harlow was informed by John Kirby, the spokesman for the White House National Security Council, that the idea of implementing brief, targeted humanitarian pauses during the conflict should be given serious thought.
When questioned by Harlow about the progress made in evacuating Americans from Gaza, Kirby was unable to provide a specific timeframe.
"We are optimistic about finding a solution to evacuate the American citizens. It would be ideal if we could accomplish that today. It is uncertain how imminent we are in achieving this goal. Nevertheless, we are confident that there is a method to accomplish this task. It solely requires our diligent efforts," he stated in an interview on "CNN This Morning".
Trucks carrying aid arrive at the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt in Rafah in southern Gaza, on October 21.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
On Sunday, CNN reported that there was a partial restoration of communications in Gaza, following intervention from the US. This blackout, caused by intense Israeli bombardment, had cut off civilians, aid groups, and journalists from any form of external communication. However, service seemed to be slowly reinstated on Sunday.
A senior US official emphasized to Israel the significance of reinstating services in Gaza. "We highly valued this matter, devoted efforts towards it, and are pleased with the progress of its restoration," Sullivan expressed on MSNBC.
The White House has been under increasing pressure from its own party to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza more assertively. This pressure was evident during a meeting last week with Muslim-American leaders, who urged President Biden to show greater empathy towards Palestinians. Criticism intensified after Biden expressed doubts about the civilian death toll in Gaza reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Since the start of the conflict, the Biden administration has faced severe backlash from Muslim-Americans, who accuse them of showing less empathy towards Palestinians compared to Israelis.
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Many of the groups that campaigned for Biden in 2020, and led door-to-door voting campaigns, have cautioned that this approach could pose a political risk for the president during his reelection bid. Kirby responded to this criticism on Monday, stating that they have consistently emphasized the importance of respecting civilian life, abiding by the laws of war, and advising Israeli counterparts to conduct operations with care in order to minimize civilian casualties.
"I acknowledge the unfortunate loss of civilian lives and injuries, and I want to emphasize that addressing the humanitarian need is a top priority. We are putting immense effort into facilitating the delivery of aid and assistance to those affected. However, it is important to note that Israel's objective is not to deliberately harm innocent civilians, but rather to target Hamas. Our goal is to ensure that these operations are conducted with utmost caution, care, and intention. In contrast, it is evident that Vladimir Putin's objectives in Ukraine include the deliberate killing of innocent civilians."
