Washington’s blanket support for Israel will change if Israel doesn’t start listening to U.S. demands about protecting civilians in Gaza and allowing aid into the Palestinian enclave, Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested Thursday.
The top U.S. diplomat spoke to reporters after President Biden’s call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The warning lacked specifics and came as the Biden administration continued to approve the transfer of thousands of bombs to Israel, despite calls to condition aid in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen charity.
“If we don’t see the changes we need to see, there will be changes in our policy,” Blinken said.
Blinken’s remarks echoed the substance of a readout of Biden’s call with Netanyahu. According to the readout, Biden called on Israel to implement “specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” adding that “U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
The top U.S. diplomat spoke to reporters after President Biden’s call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The warning lacked specifics and came as the Biden administration continued to approve the transfer of thousands of bombs to Israel, despite calls to condition aid in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen charity.
“If we don’t see the changes we need to see, there will be changes in our policy,” Blinken said.
Blinken’s remarks echoed the substance of a readout of Biden’s call with Netanyahu. According to the readout, Biden called on Israel to implement “specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” adding that “U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
