During a news conference held on Wednesday alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Joe Biden reaffirmed strong support for Israel while emphasizing the necessity to boost the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He urged Israel to take every possible measure to safeguard innocent civilians and denounced reports of "extremist" Israeli settlers in the West Bank targeting Palestinians.
The President's statements followed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's public acknowledgment, made for the first time, that "humanitarian pauses must be considered." This is to ensure the uninterrupted supply of crucial humanitarian aid such as food, water, medicine, and other essentials into Gaza.
Only a week ago, the administration vetoed a resolution at the U.N. Security Council that called for humanitarian pauses, citing the necessity of allowing diplomacy to unfold for securing aid deliveries.
According to a U.S. official, the change in the administration's language was a deliberate shift. The White House is now endorsing the concept of an indefinite "pause" to facilitate the increased delivery of aid to Gaza and assist those attempting to leave the enclave safely.
The administration is striving to strike a delicate balance, as the official explained, by supporting Israel's right to defend itself following a sudden and severe attack while also recognizing the importance of creating a window for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
