A tense phone call between Joe Biden and Bibi Netanyahu appeared to yield at least some results, as Netanyahu's office announced within hours it would temporarily allow more aid to flow into Gaza. Via AFP:
Biden has stood solidly behind Israel and its prime minister since Hamas's October 7 attacks, and his criticism of civilian deaths in Gaza has not stopped Washington from supplying military hardware to its key ally.
But the Democrat faces spiraling anger from Muslim and younger voters over his support for Israel, and political allies have been pressing him to make the aid conditional on changed Israeli behavior.
In a 30-minute call with Netanyahu after Israeli strikes killed seven aid workers from US-based charity World Central Kitchen, Biden hinted at doing just that.
For the first time, Biden "made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action" to curtail the killing of civilians and aid workers and improve the dire humanitarian situation, the White House said.
What will actually happen?
Later that evening Netanyahu's office announced it was reopening the Erez border crossing for the first time since October 7 to allow aid into the northern Gaza Strip, as well as allowing supplies to pass through the port of Ashdod. Increased levels of Jordanian aid will go through Kerem Shalom.
The White House said the steps were taken "at the president's request" and "must now be fully and rapidly implemented."
For the first time, Netanyahu is responding publicly to White House pressure. Well, yeah, bombing workers from a beloved aid group was a BIG mistake. But talk is cheap, let's see how they deliver.
