President Biden has praised Israeli authorities for improving aid delivery to Gaza but emphasized that more needs to be done, according to a statement made on Wednesday. In a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Mr. Biden warned that the United States could withhold support for Israel unless more was done to protect civilians and ensure adequate supplies for Gaza.
Since then, Israel has increased access for food, medicine, and other critical supplies, with Mr. Netanyahu committing to further actions such as increasing the number of aid trucks entering Gaza and opening another border crossing into the territory. However, President Biden stated that these efforts are still not enough and that more action is required, particularly in the north.
The United Nations has reported that the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has not significantly changed, while Israel claims that there has been a sharp increase in the number of trucks reaching the territory. President Biden has not specified what actions he would take if Israel fails to meet his demands, but he did stress the importance of Hamas agreeing to a proposal for a six-week cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages seized earlier this month.
The president also highlighted his commitment to securing the release of over 130 hostages, including American citizens, and called for immediate action to bring about a cease-fire. Vice President Kamala Harris has met with family members of some of the hostages to discuss the ongoing situation.
“We’ll get these hostages home where they belong but also bring back a six-week cease-fire that we need now,” Mr. Biden stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation in Gaza.
