As the dire situation in Gaza worsened and relief organizations issued warnings about a lack of food, water, and medicine, the Biden administration gave no indications on Friday that it was ready to take a more firm stance on Israel’s military operation against Hamas.
Israeli civilian casualties must be reduced, according to Biden officials, and Gaza must be made open to humanitarian aid. However, this still places America’s stance at a considerable distance from that of many Arab nations, who call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and accuse Israel of responding in a way that is grossly out of proportion to the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Ministers from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries declared at a press conference on Friday that the Israeli offensive must end while on a visit to Washington. Ayman Safadi, the foreign minister of Jordan, accused Israel of carrying out a “massacre.”
A Security Council resolution advocating for a humanitarian cease-fire, written by the United Arab Emirates, was vetoed by the United States on Friday in New York, defying 13 votes in favor.
The Biden administration has been attempting to convince Israel to take more steps to protect Palestinian civilians, despite mounting domestic and international pressure. However, it hasn’t openly threatened Israel with any particular repercussions if it doesn’t. Officials from the White House dismiss suggestions of reducing or limiting military assistance to Israel, stating that no concrete timeframe has been set for Israel to conclude its offensive in Gaza.
About a week after fresh fighting broke a pause to allow for the release of hostages held by Hamas and prisoners held by Israel, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken indicated on Thursday that the United States remained unsatisfied with civilian deaths and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. More than 15,000 people have died as a result of Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks on October 7, which claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Mr. Blinken stated that “there does remain a gap” between Israel’s claimed “intent to protect civilians” and the actual outcomes that “we’re seeing on the ground” during a news conference in Washington.
Mr. Blinken claimed to have advised Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a trip to Tel Aviv last week that they needed to set aside safe zones for civilians, stop the exodus of Gazans, and guard against damaging vital infrastructure, such as power plants. Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III have also pushed Israel to exercise greater caution in its operations.
