White House Criticizes Israeli Military Campaign in Gaza, Pushes for Cease-Fire
In a sharp rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign in Gaza, President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the high number of Palestinian casualties and called for a temporary cease-fire. The White House has been working tirelessly to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas, but Netanyahu has rejected the proposed terms, leading to a stalemate in the conflict.
During a press conference at the White House, President Biden stated, “I’m of the view that the conduct of the response in Gaza has been over the top. I have been pushing very hard for a temporary cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the freeing of Palestinians in Israeli jails.” He also emphasized the need for increased humanitarian assistance into Gaza, which has been devastated by the ongoing conflict.
The President also mentioned his efforts to convince Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to open the gate for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, as well as persuading Netanyahu to do the same on the Israeli side. These efforts have been met with resistance, but Biden remains determined to find a solution that will bring an end to the violence and suffering in Gaza.
The White House has issued a stern warning to Israel, cautioning against any military operations in the city of Rafah along the border with Egypt. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that any military operations in Rafah without proper consideration for the safety of civilians would be a disaster and not something that the United States would support. This warning echoes the concerns of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned of a “gigantic tragedy” if the conflict spreads into Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population has taken shelter.
Despite the U.S.’s strong stance against military operations in Rafah, there are concerns that Israel may still move into the city. This has raised concerns in Cairo, as an Israeli advance into Rafah could lead to a mass effort by Gazans to escape across the border into Egypt. The U.S. is also worried about the potential spread of the conflict into Egypt and has been urging Israel to exercise caution.
However, despite the U.S.’s concerns and warnings, it remains a staunch supporter of Israel’s military campaign to eliminate Hamas. This has raised questions about why President Biden has not used the U.S.’s considerable leverage to rein in Netanyahu. Some experts believe that the President is withholding this leverage for when he may need to restrain Israel from broadening the conflict, particularly against Lebanon.
The ongoing conflict has also sparked intense backlash from Arab and Muslim Americans, who are calling for a more proactive approach from the U.S. government. In an effort to repair relations, President Biden’s aides met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Michigan, a crucial swing state in the upcoming presidential election. The President is set to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah next week to discuss the situation in Gaza and push for a deal.
Despite the Biden administration’s optimism that a temporary cease-fire can still be reached, there are concerns that neither Hamas nor Israel are truly interested in a comprehensive cessation of hostilities. The only urgency seems to be coming from the U.S., as the conflict continues to escalate and innocent lives are lost.
In conclusion, the White House has been working tirelessly to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas, but the ongoing conflict has reached a stalemate. President Biden has expressed his concerns about the high number of Palestinian casualties and has called for a temporary cease-fire. The U.S. remains a staunch supporter of Israel’s military campaign, but it is also urging caution and emphasizing the need for increased humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The President’s efforts to find a solution to the conflict and repair relations with Arab and Muslim Americans are commendable, and we can only hope that a peaceful resolution can be reached soon.
