Joe Biden called on Benjamin Netanyahu to downplay the number of civilian casualties in the Gaza operation in response to last Saturday’s horrific Hamas attack, the bloodiest Israel has suffered in 50 years. U.S. government sources told NBCnews after yesterday’s phone call between the two leaders, also indicating that the United States is coordinating a plan to provide assistance to civilians outside the Gaza Strip who are at risk of being trapped in the conflict to enable transit. Under the plan, a humanitarian corridor to Egypt would serve as an escape route for Palestinian civilians who have no connection to Hamas and are at risk of being killed or made homeless in the ground operation that Israel is preparing in the Gaza Strip. In this context, the American broadcaster’s sources explain that the president asked the Israeli prime minister “more directly than in the past” that the army take measures to avoid civilian casualties. Biden’s message therefore suggests that the White House fears a possible backlash should Israel appear to use excessive force, resulting in the deaths of women, children and non-combatants.
Biden’s warning, however, was not publicly expressed, at least not directly, neither in the White House’s statement on the call nor in the president’s speech at the White House shortly thereafter, in which he reiterated that “like everyone else… “As another nation in the world, Israel has the right, indeed the duty, to respond to these terrible attacks.” The statement then said that Biden, in conversation with Netanyahu, “detailed that US support has arrived or arrives, with ammunition, interceptors for Iron Dome, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, and other defense materials.”
In the speech, Biden said: “If the United States had suffered what Israel is suffering, our response would have been swift, decisive and overwhelming.” But then, referring to the phone call with Netanyahu, he added: “We talked about how democracies how Israel and the United States are strong and safer when they act based on the rule of law.” Terrorists specifically target and kill civilians. We respect the laws of war – the statements of the American number one – that’s what matters.” The USA has increased the pressure on Israel.
