President Biden’s response to the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza raised questions about whether he would put conditions on the weapons sent to Israel. Despite tense interactions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House has not indicated any breaking point. Declarations of outrage from Biden have not been followed by concrete consequences, although he has stated that launching a bombing campaign on the city of Rafah would cross a “red line.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen has called for placing conditions on arms supplied to Israel, urging a change in course from the president. While conditions on American arms are typically imposed, Israel has been an exception. Possible steps that Biden could demand include having aid convoys escorted by the Israel Defense Forces, among others. Previous efforts to address safe passage issues with Israeli officials have not fully resolved the matter.
After the strike on the World Central Kitchen convoy, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan urged the Israelis to have a plan for the evacuation of refugees in the Rafah region. Despite American pressure, there are concerns that the Israelis may not have a credible plan for a comprehensive evacuation. While Mr. Netanyahu has not launched attacks on Rafah yet, this could be due to readiness or American pressure.
Some observers believe that the attack on the aid workers may be a breaking point for Mr. Biden, as the operation has been successful in avoiding famine in Gaza. However, Biden stops short of openly breaking with Mr. Netanyahu, fearing that it would make the prime minister more difficult to handle. This cautious approach has led to criticism from the progressive wing of the Democratic party for acting too cautiously and not limiting Israel’s defense capabilities.
Critics have noted that Biden’s most visceral expression of anger came over the killing of foreign humanitarian workers rather than the many Palestinian civilian deaths that preceded them. There is concern that the administration does not show the same level of outrage over strikes that do not involve Western aid workers. Despite strong language from Biden, some doubt that this incident will lead to a significant shift in policy towards Israel.
Former ambassador to Israel, Daniel C. Kurtzer, expressed skepticism that Biden’s outrage would result in a strong policy response. The attack on the aid workers is likely to increase pressure on aid deliverers and worsen humanitarian distress. The White House has not indicated any concrete policy changes following the incident, despite the expressions of outrage from Biden.
