Biden switches to 'pause' on Gaza attack, 'misjudgment' due to rapid increase in casualties
US President Biden switched to a ‘pause of attacks on Gaza’, revealing a ‘misjudgment’ in the rapid increase in casualties in the Gaza Strip.
A White House official told Reuters, "Biden's team has become focused on supporting a humanitarian moratorium on Israel's attacks and getting aid to the Palestinians. This change in tone reflects the 'worsening humanitarian crisis' in the Gaza Strip." He said it was based on “facts on the ground” and the Biden team’s “conversations with countries around the world.”
A local U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We did not expect that Palestinian casualties would increase as quickly as they have,” and expressed concern that “the humanitarian situation would deteriorate so rapidly.”
“There was a tug-of-war behind the scenes between Biden and his aides about the American message,” said a former U.S. administration official in contact with a current official. “We saw a nuance that evolved a little bit from a kind of unconditional embrace of Israel.” told Reuters.
Based on this coverage, Reuters said, “President Biden and his team have markedly changed their tone on the recent Israel-Hamas crisis, moving from unlimited support for Israel to the need to protect Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip ahead of an upcoming Israeli ground invasion.” “We switched to emphasizing it,” it was reported on the 28th.
Regarding President Biden's "evolving judgment," Reuters said, "A challenging 2024 re-election bid, some supporters threatening to 'hold the vote' over lack of support for the Palestinians, and former Barack Obama warning that Israel's actions could backfire. He pointed out three things, saying, “We have evolved in the face of the president’s warning.”
A U.S. military advisory group dispatched to the war zone is urging Israeli authorities to exercise caution in the development of ground warfare, as they will be faced with "difficult combat terrain and tunnels and booby-trapped buildings, which could increase casualties among Israeli soldiers and Gaza civilians." A source told Reuters.
Israeli officials and supporters of Israel in the United States have expressed concern that “the world will focus more and more” on the death and destruction caused by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip as time passes following the Oct. 7 atrocity committed by Hamas, Reuters reports. Reuters reported that he expressed this personally.
“Biden’s aides are urging Israeli aides to take more time to think carefully about an exit strategy before a full-scale ground invasion,” another U.S. government source told Reuters.
U.S. officials warned that it would be a mistake to “make the details of such a strategy ‘on the fly,’ as the United States often did in the early stages of the Iraq war,” the source said.
Former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has rarely commented on the foreign policy crisis, but said Israel's blockade of food and water to Gaza this week could 'harden Palestinian attitudes for generations.' He issued a public warning.
At a press conference on the 25th, President Biden said, “Israel must do everything it can to protect innocent civilians,” implying a “humanitarian pause.”
The most drastic change in U.S. policy was the halt to Israel's attack on Gaza, which resulted in aid and support for people to escape.
In response to a question about the international community's request for a humanitarian moratorium on the 23rd, White House National Security Spokesperson (Coordinator) John Kirby said, "The United States believes Israel has the tools it needs to defend itself and go after Hamas, and we want humanitarian aid to continue to flow." “He said and opened his first gun.
A day after Coordinator Kirby's remarks, Kirby and Secretary of State Blinken publicly supported it.
“The change follows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ increasingly desperate pleas for civilians to be protected and UN agencies to allow aid,” Reuters said. “The United States is focused on Israel’s right to self-defense.” “We have amended the UN resolution to call for all measures to allow unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, especially measures including humanitarian moratoriums,” it said.
Regarding the background of the Biden administration's policy shift, Reuters said, “During Secretary of State Blinken's six-day visit, the number of deaths in the Gaza Strip increased rapidly due to Israeli airstrikes, and concerns about food and drinking water increased,” and “Secretary Blinken said, “All Arab leaders we met pressured Secretary Blinken to urgently find a solution to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza,” he said.
Secretary Blincoln relayed Arab leaders' concerns to the White House during his visit, while others spoke directly to the U.S. president.
Last week, the explosion at a Gaza hospital in Palestine was blamed on Palestinian militants by both the United States and Israel, and "violent protests against Israel" in the Middle East have surprised U.S. officials, Reuters said.
U.S. officials told Reuters: “These protests serve as a reminder that tensions can escalate in the event of a ground attack as they demonstrate how Israel’s enemies can spread disinformation to stoke unrest.” As spoke about the rapid expansion of tensions.
The New York Times said, “Saudi officials recently strongly warned the United States that Israel’s invasion of Gaza could be a disaster for the Middle East and that it would be ‘extremely harmful.’” “President Biden asked Israel to postpone the invasion. U.S. officials have cited a variety of reasons, including buying more time for hostage negotiations, providing more humanitarian aid to Gaza and better war plans, and there are also signs that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hesitant about an invasion. “He said on the 27th.
Representative Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democratic senator and member of the Armed Services Committee, told the NYT on the 25th about his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and 10 senators in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, last weekend, saying, "The Saudi leadership can avoid ground action not only for the loss of life, but also for reasons of stability." He said Saudi officials had warned it would be "extremely harmful" and that the prince and other Saudi officials struck an ominous tone with the Senate delegation.
In response to the NYT's coverage of Rep. Blumenthal's remarks, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told the NYT that the crown prince "understands that this was an act of terrorism," but added, "But he wants a measured response that does not lead to a longer, deeper conflict."