President Joe Biden has voiced support for a humanitarian \u201cpause\u201d to Israel\u2019s war in Gaza as the United States presses to evacuate all Americans trapped in the besieged Palestinian enclave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we need a pause,\u201d Biden said during a campaign speech on Wednesday, after being interrupted by a protester who urged for an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n
When asked what a pause meant, Biden said it was \u201ctime to get the prisoners out\u201d \u2013 a reference to the captives held by Hamas, the group that rules Gaza, the White House later clarified.<\/p>\n
The US president\u2019s remarks marked a shift in the position of the White House, which has previously said it would not dictate how Israel conducts its military operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not drawing red lines for Israel,\u201d White House spokesperson John Kirby said last week. \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to support them.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday, the US was one of only 14 countries in the United Nations to vote \u201cno\u201d to a resolution in the General Assembly calling for a \u201cceasefire\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US is by far Israel\u2019s strongest ally, sending it billions of dollars in aid annually. To support Israel\u2019s ongoing military offensive, Biden has asked Congress to approve a $14.3bn military aid package to the country.<\/p>\n
The US president has faced growing pressure from rights activists, fellow world leaders, and even progressive members of his own Democratic Party to rein in Israel from its relentless attacks on Gaza, which have killed at least 8,800 people, including 3,500 children.<\/p>\n
He is facing particularly intense backlash from Arab Americans, an important constituency in the Democratic Party, for his staunch backing of Israel in the war.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s support from Arab Americans has plummeted to 17 percent, according to a survey from the Arab American Institute (AAI) think tank.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is incredibly complicated for the Israelis,\u201d Biden added during his speech. \u201cIt\u2019s incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well \u2026 I supported a two-state solution, I have from the very beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s latest push for a \u201cpause\u201d to the fighting comes as the US administration progresses in securing the safe exit of its citizens trapped in Gaza and begins speaking about the future of a post-war Gaza.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, American citizens were among hundreds of foreigners to begin leaving the besieged territory via Egypt\u2019s Rafah border crossing, part of an Egypt-mediated deal to allow safe passage for the wounded and foreign nationals.<\/p>\n
White House spokesperson Kirby said on Wednesday he was hopeful the US would get all Americans out of Gaza in the next few days.<\/p>\n
About 400 US citizens in Gaza have told the State Department they want to leave the territory and, with family members, US officials say they are trying to help about 1,000 people get out.<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s shift in rhetoric also comes amid a flurry of US diplomatic moves in the region, including the confirmation of a new ambassador to Israel and an upcoming trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Jordan and Israel.<\/p>\n
Kirby said Biden\u2019s newly confirmed ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, would soon take up his post.<\/p>\n
He would be tasked with \u201csupporting US efforts to create the conditions for a humanitarian pause to address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing Palestinian civilians\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lew, in a Senate confirmation hearing, said \u201cIsrael\u2019s struggle for security\u201d was his principal concern and he would \u201censure Israel has what it needs to defend itself\u201d.<\/p>\n
Blinken will be travelling to Jordan and Israel on Friday with an agenda to boost humanitarian aid delivery and reduce casualties.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Blinken] will reiterate US support for Israel\u2019s right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and discuss the need to take all precautions to minimise civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance,\u201d State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.<\/p>\n
Source: ALJAZEERA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Joe Biden has voiced support for a humanitarian \u201cpause\u201d to Israel\u2019s war in Gaza as the United States presses to evacuate all Americans trapped in the besieged Palestinian enclave. \u201cI think we need a pause,\u201d Biden said during a campaign speech on Wednesday, after being interrupted by a protester who urged for an immediate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":142823,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\n