President Joe Biden is set to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since Israeli military strikes resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen. Biden plans to convey his anger over the incident, which he views as indicative of broader problems with how the Israelis are conducting their operations. Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to join the conversation remotely as she is traveling to North Carolina. The aid workers were killed in a strike on Monday, including a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, and Israel stated that this was not their intention. World Central Kitchen had coordinated their movements with the Israel Defense Forces, leading to a pause in operations in the region after the attack.
This call between Biden and Netanyahu comes after they last spoke on March 18, during which Biden warned against Israeli military action in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. A virtual meeting between top U.S. and Israeli officials discussed plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, with the Americans pushing back on Israel’s proposal to evacuate Palestinian civilians without addressing their basic needs. Senator Chris Coons expressed support for placing conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel if it proceeds with an operation in Rafah without the necessary provisions for civilian protection and humanitarian aid. Senator Peter Welch also called for an end to financing Israel’s military operations in Gaza, criticizing the Netanyahu government’s strategy as disproportionately harming civilians and aid workers.
In a separate development, President Biden met with members of the Muslim community at the White House, where one participant recounted that the first lady, Jill Biden, had been privately urging him to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Biden shared a personal anecdote where his wife had similarly implored him to “stop it now” after hearing about the situation. These meetings and conversations reflect a broader effort by the Biden administration to engage with various stakeholders and address the ongoing conflict in the region. NBC News correspondents, including Peter Alexander and Monica Alba, provided coverage of these developments, highlighting the diplomatic efforts and personal anecdotes shared by the president amidst escalating tensions.
