Israel promised more aid channels into Gaza after President Joe Biden warned of a possible U.S. policy shift after a strike killed seven World Central Kitchen charity workers last week.
After Thursday's call, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson claimed Israel has committed to allowing the Ashdod port to directly send aid into Gaza, opening the Erez gate to allow aid into north Gaza, and considerably expanding Jordanian deliveries.
“As the President said today on the call, U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these and other steps, including steps to protect innocent civilians and aid workers,” Watson said Thursday night.
The Israeli government official told Sky News that “increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war.”
Biden “made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps” in his Thursday meeting with Netanyahu, according to the White House.
Two U.S. sources said Biden stressed to Netanyahu that Israel's military aid depended on Gaza's humanitarian efforts and quick ceasefire. After warning Netanyahu, Biden told him his viewpoint doesn't negate his love for Israel, according to two U.S. officials and a source.
California congressional primary tie predicts November three-way contest Biden's statements seemed to preemptively attack the concept that critics of Israel's struggle against Hamas hated the Jewish state.
According to a source, Biden told Netanyahu that no other leader outside Israel takes Israel's security more seriously and has supported Israel for decades.
At the daily White House press briefing, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby indicated he wouldn't address policy changes in the readout.
"What we are looking to see and hope to see here in the coming hours and days is a dramatic increase in the humanitarian assistance getting [into Gaza], additional crossings opened up and a reduction in the violence against civilians and certainly aid workers," Kirby said, urging Israel "take practical immediate steps to protect aid workers on the ground and to demonstrate that they have that civilian harm mitigation in place."
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