U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett has stepped forward to commend the White House’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing President Joe Biden’s firm stance in private discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, highlighted that President Biden has consistently been assertive with Netanyahu, especially as the Prime Minister’s actions contribute to profound devastation in the region. This devastation has severely impacted both Palestinians and aid workers.
US Representative Jasmine Crockett (Credits: House.gov)
Crockett’s remarks arrived shortly after President Biden, in a conversation that lasted about 30 minutes, cautioned Netanyahu about the potential for policy shifts by the U.S. if Israel doesn’t take immediate steps to mitigate “civilian harm” and the ongoing “humanitarian suffering” resulting from its conflict with Hamas.
The urgency of Biden’s concern is echoed by Ahmed Benchemsi of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division, who, while acknowledging the change in the U.S. tone, questions whether it is sufficient to influence Israel’s military strategies in Gaza.
In this crucial dialogue, President Biden specifically condemned the strikes on humanitarian workers and underscored the unacceptable nature of the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
He called for Israel to publicly commit to and enact specific measures to alleviate civilian suffering and ensure the safety of aid workers. This conversation came in the wake of an Israeli airstrike that tragically killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.
Besides these developments, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna has voiced a need for actions beyond words, criticizing the killing of World Central Kitchen workers and urging President Biden to halt the supply of offensive weaponry to Netanyahu’s government until a permanent ceasefire is achieved and all hostages are released.
President Biden (Credits: Middle East Monitor)
Human Rights Watch has similarly urged the U.S. to cease weapon sales to Israel, citing their use in committing serious war violations. Since the onset of hostilities following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation, over 31,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with more than 72,000 injured, per United Nations reports.
The situation is dire, with widespread starvation among the region’s inhabitants. Experts from the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner have accused Israel of deliberately starving Gaza’s residents, labeling it a grave war crime.
The call for U.S. intervention to end the suffering of the Palestinian people is growing louder among politicians like Khanna, emphasizing the need for immediate and decisive action to address the revealing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
