Humanitarian “Pause” in Israel-Hamas War Is Called for by Biden

Following a protester’s interruption of his campaign address on Wednesday night demanding a cease-fire, President Joe Biden said that he believed there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Biden said, “I think we need a pause.”

The conversation marked a subdued shift for Biden and senior White House advisers, who have been unwavering in their declaration that they would not control how the Israelis conduct their military operations in retaliation for the Hamas assault on October 7.

However, the president is coming under increasing criticism from human rights organizations, other international leaders, and even progressive Democrats who believe that a cease-fire is needed and that Israel’s shelling of Gaza is a kind of collective punishment. In his remarks, Biden put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide the Palestinians at least a short-term break from the ceaseless military campaign that has claimed hundreds of lives and submerged the 141-square-mile strip in a tumultuous humanitarian catastrophe.

The White House has indicated that the Israelis should think about humanitarian pauses to enable civilians to receive assistance and for foreign nationals who are stranded on the strip to evacuate Gaza, but it has declined to call for a cease-fire. According to the IDF on Wednesday, Israeli ground forces have pushed close to Gaza City amid fierce combat with terrorists. After more than three weeks under siege, hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of Palestinians with significant injuries were permitted to leave Gaza.

Aside from four hostages freed by Hamas and one saved by Israeli troops, the first civilians to escape Gaza entered Egypt. They did so despite bombardment forcing hundreds of thousands of residents from their homes and a shortage of gasoline, food, and water. Biden’s recently confirmed ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, will shortly be sent to the Middle East, where he will be required to assist in “supporting U.S. efforts to create the conditions for a humanitarian pause to address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing Palestinian civilians,” according to a statement made earlier on Wednesday by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

In response to requests for more funding for Gaza, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog said on “The Hill” on NewsNation on Wednesday, “we don’t need urging.” “Humanitarian supplies to Gaza are being increased in the southern portion of the Strip, away from Hamas.” Truckload traffic is double and expected to increase more, he said. “We provide water. We also provide different kinds of materials.

He told NewsNation that they were relieved to see outsiders depart Gaza. That being said, we don’t need prodding in that way. After deliberating on the matter this week, our Cabinet determined that there are no restrictions as long as we can ensure that Hamas does not get humanitarian aid and use it to fuel its military apparatus. That won’t take place. Other than that, everything is accessible.

As Biden was explaining his 2020 presidential campaign to an audience in Minneapolis on Wednesday night, a lady stood up and cried, “Mr. President, if you care about Jewish people, as a rabbi, I need you to call for a cease-fire.”

Near the location of the event, his appearance in the city attracted over a thousand protestors, many of whom carried Palestinian flags and placards with the slogans “Stop Bombing Children,” “Free Palestine,” and “Ceasefire now.” The protester was soon yelled down by other attendees and taken out of the room after Biden said that he understood the feelings driving the protestor. When questioned, he said, “It means it will take time to get the prisoners out.” Later, White House officials explained that Obama was referring to humanitarian supplies and captives.

“For the Israelis, this is extremely complicated,” Biden said. It’s quite complex for the Muslim community as well. .. I have been in favor of a two-state solution from the outset. “Hamas is a terrorist group, that much is certain. An outright terrorist group,” he said. However, Biden acknowledged that he has been engaged in providing humanitarian help, claiming credit for persuading Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to permit the entry of supplies into Gaza. “I’m the one,” he said.