President Joe Biden spoke Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, their first conversation since seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Biden had strongly condemned the incident, which Israel's said was unintentional, saying he was "outraged."
According to a White House readout of the call, Biden further expressed to Netanyahu that the strikes on the food relief workers and the overall humanitarian crisis in Gaza are "unacceptable."
For the first time, the White House hinted the president may consider a change in U.S. policy with respect to Gaza if Israel doesn't take action to better protect civilians and aid workers.
"He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers," the readout read. "He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps."
The readout, however, didn’t elaborate on how the Israeli prime minister responded to the demands or what steps the U.S. would take if the state didn’t comply.
In Brussels, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also warned of a change in U.S. policy if nothing changes.
"With regard to our policy in Gaza, look, I’ll just say this, if we don't see the changes that we need to see, there'll be changes in our own policy," Blinken told reporters.
World Central Kitchen has called for an independent investigation into the airstrikes, during which its convoy was struck after leaving a warehouse in central Gaza. The organization said the vehicles were marked and their movements were coordinated with the Israel Defense Forces.
"This was a military attack that involved multiple strikes and targeted three WCK vehicles," the group said as it called on the U.S., Australia, Canada, Poland and the United Kingdom to join them in demanding a
A senior adviser for Netanyahu told ABC News claims by the aid group that the strike was intentional were "absurd."
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday that a "thorough and transparent investigation is being conducted" and findings will be shared with partners, according to a readout of a call between the two leaders provided by Gallant's office.
The last time Biden and Netanyahu spoke on the phone was March 18. Since then, tensions have continued to grow between the two leaders as they both face political pressures at home as the Israel-Hamas war stretches into its sixth month.
In Thursday’s conversation, Biden “underscored” the need for an immediate cease-fire deal in order for hostages to be released and allow more humanitarian aid to get into the Gaza Strip.
They also talked about Iranian threats against Israel, and Biden “made clear the United States strongly supports Israel in the face of those threats.”
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