Watan-A report from Axios revealed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reaction after US President Joe Biden urged him to work towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The report stated that Netanyahu was surprised by Biden’s request for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during a conversation between the two parties held on Thursday.
This call was described as the “harshest public rebuke” from Washington to Tel Aviv following Israeli targeting of workers from the World Central Kitchen program in Gaza.
Biden warns Netanyahu
During the phone call, Biden issued his final warning to Netanyahu, telling him, “We will not be able to support you if Israel does not change its course within Gaza,” according to three sources familiar with the call.
According to Axios, Biden did not specify what losing US support would entail, but his call was the toughest with Netanyahu since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, both in tone and substance.
Several prominent members of the Biden administration attended the 30-minute call on Thursday, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Airstrikes exacerbate Gaza crisis
Biden spoke to Netanyahu about the Israeli airstrikes on World Central Kitchen workers and informed him that the airstrikes would exacerbate the already severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Biden told Netanyahu that there was a need for a ceasefire in Gaza because of the incident, to allow for the resumption of humanitarian aid efforts, according to sources.
In return, Netanyahu informed Biden that there would be new measures implemented on the ground, thus there would be no need for a ceasefire, as reported by sources.
Netanyahu clarified that the ceasefire should come with a deal to release prisoners held in Gaza.
Israel under pressure
Israeli authorities announced on Thursday immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Cabinet approved immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the population in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media reported that Israel would temporarily allow humanitarian aid to be delivered through the Ashdod port and the Erez crossing (Beit Hanoun), as well as allow an increase in Jordanian aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
This comes after the United States issued the “strongest public rebuke” to Israel since its fierce war on the Gaza Strip, with Biden, for the first time, calling on Netanyahu to immediately cease fire.
He also linked support for the war to tangible steps taken by Tel Aviv to ensure the safety of relief workers and Palestinian civilians, and called for accountability for those responsible for targeting the World Central Kitchen convoy.