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Under Pressure, Biden Says He’ll Consider Conditions to Israel Aid

Israel’s attack on humanitarian aid workers with the World Central Kitchen has prompted fierce backlash, even from some of Israel’s supporters.

Joe Biden
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the days after Israel’s military killed World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers in Gaza. Alex Brandon/AP

President Joe Biden, facing increased pressure to change course on the United States’ policies toward the war in Gaza, opened the door to putting conditions on aid to Israel.

On Thursday, Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that continued U.S. aid would depend on the implementation of protections for civilians and humanitarian workers. Biden also said a temporary “immediate cease-fire” was “essential” to put that plan in place.

“It’s important to understand, there will be no humanitarian pause in the fighting, no cease-fire, that will leave our hostages in Gaza and leave Hamas in power. That is unacceptable on our end,” Netanyahu’s spokesperson Tal Heinrich said on Fox News shortly after the call with Biden.