Occupied Gaza
TownhallMar 23
Biden Tells Netanyahu US Policy to Change if Civilian Suffering Not Addressed
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The Facts
During a Thursday phone call between US Pres. Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden reportedly warned Israel's premier that US policy toward Israel and the war in Gaza will change if it does not implement "steps to address civilian harm." The White House's statement did not include any details regarding a potential shift in policy.
The US has expressed concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and a potential Israeli operation into Rafah. A meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs reportedly became heated as the two discussed Israel's plans to evacuate civilians before an operation.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Israel's war against Hamas is surely just, given the atrocities the group committed during its Oct. 7 attack. However, the Biden administration is losing its patience with Netanyahu's intransigence. Israel must take into account the innocent civilians in Gaza who are trapped between the country's military machine and Hamas's terrorist fighters, as Israel risks pushing Palestinians into Hamas' hands if it does not work to ensure their safety.
Pro-Israel narrative
Though this has been a tragic war, Israel must eliminate Hamas and restore deterrence with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah. Hamas's military capabilities and infrastructure must be eliminated to ensure Israel's security. To eliminate this capacity for terror, Israel has been forced to use blunt tools to route Hamas forces, as they are so deeply dug into Gaza's civil infrastructure. The international community consistently parrots Hamas propaganda, as Israel worked from the get-go to deliver aid to Gaza and find a solution to end this war.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel continues to demonstrate that its war is not against Hamas but against the Palestinian people as a whole. There already is more than enough evidence to suggest that Israeli forces have consistently targeted civilians, even foreign citizens, in the country's campaign to starve the people of Gaza into submission. Though the US, Israel's biggest ally, likes to wax about civilian casualties, it must instead exert more pressure to end this war for good.