President Biden supports a temporary pause for humanitarian aid in Israel-Hamas War.
President Biden called for a “pause” in the Israel-Hamas War during a campaign event in Minnesota, stating the need to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans and secure the release of those trapped in the Gaza Strip. This call for a ceasefire came in response to a request from a rabbi in the audience who implored the President to act immediately.
The President, who had not previously supported a ceasefire since the war began on October 7, expressed his support for a temporary pause. He stressed that a pause would allow for the release of prisoners and the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance.
President Biden’s comments were aimed at exerting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant Palestinians a brief respite from Israel’s retaliatory military operations. He also mentioned that he had successfully persuaded both Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to permit aid to enter Gaza.
Furthermore, President Biden acknowledged the complexity of the situation, recognizing the emotional toll of the war on both Israelis and the Muslim world. He reiterated his longstanding support for a two-state solution while categorizing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
This marked a subtle shift in the President’s position, as he and top White House officials had consistently maintained that they would not dictate the Israeli military’s operations in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas. President Biden was under growing pressure from within his own Democratic Party, international leaders, and human rights groups, all calling for a ceasefire, citing concerns about the Israeli bombardment of Gaza being viewed as collective punishment.
