Biden Tells Netanyahu To Take "Concrete Steps" To Reduce Civilian Harm

President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recently concluded 30-minute phone call that, "strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable," and that Israel must, "announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers."

• In one of the most forceful remarks yet Biden,"made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps."
• The call is the first contact between the two leaders since an Israeli airstrike killed 7 humanitarian workers from a US-based aid agency in Gaza. The strike has done little to significantly alter US support for Israel but has intensified calls from allies and regional leaders for Israel to alter its military strategy.
• Senate Chris Coons (D-DE), a centrist ally of Biden, said in an interview earlier today: "If Benjamin Netanyahu were to order the IDF into Rafah at scale ... and make no provision for civilians or for humanitarian aid, I would vote to condition aid to Israel."
• Per the White House, Biden also said an, "immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home."
• The White House notes that President Biden made clear that the United States "strongly supports Israel" in the face of renewed threats from Iran.