Biden calls for humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war

Following a protester’s interruption of his campaign speech on Wednesday night demanding a cease-fire, President Joe Biden stated that he believed there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden calls for humanitarian ‘pause’: Biden remarked, “I think we need a pause.” The call marked a subdued shift for Biden and senior White House advisers, who have been unwavering in their declaration that they will not control how the Israelis conduct their military operations in retaliation for the Hamas attack on October 7.

However, the president is coming under increasing pressure from human rights organisations, other international leaders, and even progressive Democrats who believe that a cease-fire is needed and that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is a kind of collective punishment.

Biden was putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his remarks to let the Palestinians at least a little break from the ceaseless military campaign that has claimed thousands of lives and engulfed the 141-square-mile strip in a violent humanitarian crisis.

The White House has suggested that the Israelis consider humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid delivery to civilians and the evacuation of foreign nationals stranded in Gaza, but it has not called for a cease-fire.

According to the IDF on Wednesday, Israeli ground forces have advanced close to Gaza City amid fierce fighting with militants. After more than three weeks under siege, authorities allowed hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of Palestinians with significant injuries to leave Gaza.

Aside from four hostages freed by Hamas and one saved by Israeli troops, the first civilians to escape Gaza entered Egypt. They did so despite bombardment forcing hundreds of thousands of residents from their homes and a shortage of fuel, food, and water.

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“On Wednesday, John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, announced that they would soon send Jack Lew, Biden’s recently confirmed ambassador to Israel, to the Middle East.” Part of his duties would include “supporting U.S. efforts to create the conditions for a humanitarian pause to address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing Palestinian civilians.”

As Biden was explaining his 2020 presidential campaign to an audience in Minneapolis on Wednesday night, a woman stood up and cried, “Mr. President, if you care about Jewish people, as a rabbi, I need you to call for a cease-fire.”

Near the location of the fundraiser, his appearance in the city attracted over a thousand protestors, many of whom carried Palestinian flags and placards bearing the slogans “Stop Bombing Children,” “Free Palestine,” and “Ceasefire now.”

Other attendees quickly shouted down the protester and removed them from the room after Biden expressed his understanding of the protester’s sentiments. When questioned, he responded that the pause “means giving time to get the prisoners out.” Later, White House officials explained that Obama was referring to humanitarian aid and captives.

“For the Israelis, this is extremely complicated,” Biden continued. It’s quite complex for the Muslim community as well. I have always been in favour of a two-state solution.”

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation, that much is true. An outright terrorist group,” he declared.

However, Biden stated that he actively engaged in providing humanitarian aid, and he claimed credit for persuading Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to allow supplies to reach Gaza.

“I am the one,” he declared.