Biden did not urge Israeli restraint in phone call with Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Oct 2023 21:48

According to a US official familiar with their phone conversation, Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned possibly mobilizing in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House on May 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP)

In a phone chat with US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of mobilizing in Gaza three days into Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. According to a US person briefed on the exchange, Biden did not caution him against doing so.

Officials believe Biden's choice to refrain from advising Netanyahu to display moderation in the early wake of the bombings reflects, in part, the overwhelming shock and scope of the Palestinian Resistance Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on "Israel."

1,000 Israelis have been killed so far as the number of casualties continues to grow exponentially, Israeli media outlets reported as the Operation is entering its fourth day.

The Israeli Zaka emergency service said 260 bodies were found in the illegal settlement of "Re'im", where settlers were partying just outside what has been described as the world's largest open-air prison, the Gaza Strip.

The potential of American captives being kept inside Gaza complicates matters even worse for the US President as he prepares to give a second speech since the Operation began 3 days ago.

Biden announced on Monday that 11 Americans are dead and others are likely captured by Hamas.

Biden said Washington, which has moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to occupied Palestinian territory in a show of support to the Israeli occupation, was working with its key ally on "hostage recovery efforts."

The White House said that while it was sending fresh military aid to "Israel", there was no question for now of the US interfering in the confrontation.

"There's no intention to put US boots on the ground," National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

US officials call for Israeli restraint, then regret it, delete posts

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed a tweet calling for a ceasefire, the second time in a few days that US authorities have deleted comments calling for Israeli restraint.

In his X post, Blinken recounted a discussion with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in which he "encouraged Turkey's advocacy for a cease-fire and the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas," which differed from the official US interpretation of the call, which did not include such language.

The ceasefire clause was changed to "Israel has the right to defend itself, rescue any hostages, and protect its citizens."

This comes on the heels of a similar event involving the State Department's Office of Palestinian Affairs, which first stated that it "unequivocally condemned the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing."

The office replaced the message with messages transmitting and reposting the US Embassy's notifications to citizens on the ground, as well as quoting US officials who "unequivocally" condemned the "attacks".

The transformation in rhetoric indicates the US support of "Israel's" brutal attack on Gaza under the guise of "self-defense", which has been bolstered by the deployment of Navy and military aircraft, the supplementing of existing Air Force units, and the provision of more equipment and weapons to the Israeli military.