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Posted by admin on 2024-04-06 |

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·       US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza.

 

·       Israel has come under international scrutiny following its airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of seven humanitarian workers, including a dual citizen of the US and Canada, in Gaza.

 

·       Israel said on Thursday that it would adjust tactics in the Gaza war after describing the attack as the result of a misidentification and that inquiry findings would be made public soon.

In what marks Washington’s strongest stance yet on the conflict, President Biden issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Netanyahu during a telephone call, insisting on an immediate ceasefire and prompt resolution of the hostage situation.

Concrete Steps Demanded from Israel and Emphasis on Accountability

In a statement released by the White House after the brief call between the two leaders, which lasted less than 30 minutes, the White House said that the president "emphasised that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable".

"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 summary said.

Israel has been facing international criticism after its airstrikes killed seven food aid workers, including a dual citizen of the US and Canada, in Gaza.

Tragic Incident

Seven workers of the World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza. The victims included citizens from Australia, Britain, Poland, Palestine, and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Despite co-ordinating movements with the Israeli Defence Force, the convoy was hit as it was leaving its Deir al-Balah warehouse, after unloading more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza by sea, WCK said.

Israel’s Response

Mr. Biden on Tuesday said that he was "outraged and heartbroken" by the deaths of the seven WCK workers, but added that it was "not a stand-alone incident" in a war where many aid workers had been killed.

On Thursday, Israel announced it would modify its tactics in the Gaza conflict, attributing the attack to a misidentification and promising to release inquiry findings soon.

Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington, said the strike on WCK aid workers “was the last straw.” “This call was the long-promised ‘come to Jesus conversation’ that Biden said last month he would have with Netanyahu,” Blumenfeld said.

Escalating Toll

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 33,000 people, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives in the conflict. The initial spark for the conflict was Hamas’s killing of more than 1,200 individuals in Israel and its seizure of 240 hostages during an attack on October 7.