'Israel' to face consequences if civilian safety neglected in Gaza: US

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
4 Apr 2024 22:55
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Blinken, Biden, and Kirby threatened 'Israel' with a shift in Gaza policy if it continued targeting Palestinian civilians.

President Joe Biden leaves with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris after speaking Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 (AP)

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, warned on Thursday of a shift in US policy regarding the Israeli genocide in Gaza, if "Israel" continues carrying out its military operation while neglecting civilian safety and protection.

"With regard to our policy in Gaza, if we don't see the changes that we need to see, there'll be changes in our policy," Blinken said during a presser in Brussels, Belgium.

White House spokesperson John Kirby echoed Blinken's warning, claiming that there will be consequences from the American side.

Kirby also relayed the growing frustration US President Joe Biden has been experiencing due to Benjamin Netanyahu's policies in Gaza.

In a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, the former threatened "Israel" with a change of policy unless tangible difference is imposed in its military approach, Kirby claimed.

However, when asked if US military aid to "Israel" would be halted as part of those consequences, Kirby refrained from responding.

Biden stance toward 'Israel' unchanged despite aid workers deaths: WP

This comes after Biden issued a rare direct rebuke of "Israel", condemning its role in creating conditions that have made aid distribution inside Gaza deadly.

"This is not a stand-alone incident. This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed," Biden said. "This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult — because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians."

Despite Biden's condemnation, there is little indication of significant changes in the administration's stance on "Israel." While the president and his top aides have expressed frustration with "Israel's" conduct, they have shown little appetite for imposing punitive actions such as conditioning or suspending weapons sales.

The Biden administration's response has faced criticism for its contradictions. While advocating for increased aid flow into Gaza, the administration previously stated that "Israel" was not obstructing humanitarian aid delivery.

This inconsistency in the administration's approach has led to growing frustration among Democrats and Biden allies, who are calling for a more assertive stance, including demands for an immediate ceasefire and suspension or conditioning of military aid to "Israel."