Biden presses Israel on humanitarian grounds, seeks hostage deal in Middle East

President Biden reconsiders U.S. support for Israel following Gaza strike that killed humanitarian workers, seeks Middle Eastern collaboration for hostage deal

U.S. President Joe Biden is showing a significant shift in attitude toward Israel, driven by recent humanitarian issues in Gaza. He is actively engaging Middle Eastern nations to negotiate a hostage deal with Hamas.

President Biden, a longtime supporter of Israel, is rethinking his stance following the Israeli strike in Gaza that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.

“Obviously, the World Central Kitchen fiasco has turned the political pressure up,” James Ryan of the Middle East Research and Information Project told Agence France-Presse. He emphasized the need for Israel to distinguish more clearly between combatants and civilians.

The Biden administration has expressed concerns over the Netanyahu government’s plans for a ground offensive in Rafah, with fears that civilian deaths in Gaza could surge.

After a 30-minute call with Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden discussed “the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” according to the White House.

In response, the Israeli government temporarily opened an extra border crossing at Erez for aid deliveries. The Israeli military also decided to fire two officers following a review that uncovered “grave mistakes” leading to the drone strike on the aid workers.

Alongside Gaza concerns, President Biden is urging Egypt and Qatar to help secure a deal with Hamas. The hostage situation, involving around 130 individuals still in Gaza, has become a pressing issue.

“I wrote letters to the President of Egypt and the Emir of Qatar on the state of the talks, and I urged them to secure commitments from Hamas to agree to and abide by a deal,” Biden stated, emphasizing the importance of releasing hostages, including American citizens.

CIA Director Bill Burns is set to lead the U.S. team in Cairo for upcoming negotiations, aiming to reach a six-week cease-fire agreement and the release of hostages.

Source: Newsroom