Fast Forward

10 key statements that show Biden’s evolution on the war since Oct. 7

Biden strongly backed Israel after Oct. 7. On Thursday he echoed other Democrats’ calls to condition aid to Israel on its steps to protect Palestinians in Gaza

President Joe Biden joined an Israeli war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18. Photo by Getty Images

By Lauren Markoe April 4, 2024

President Joe Biden Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call with Israel’s prime minister, and seemed to bend to many Democrats’ calls to condition future aid to the country on steps it takes to protect the vulnerable and aid workers.

Biden’s message to Benjamin Netanyahu comes three days after the Israel Defense Forces killed in an airstrike seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, an act for which Netanyahu apologized. Since then, calls for a ceasefire — already mounting among Biden allies and Democratic voters — have intensified.

The president “underscores that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians,” read a summary of the phone call released by the White House.

He “urged the prime minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home,” it continued.

Biden stood firmly by the Jewish state after Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, becoming the first U.S. president to visit Israel in wartime. But in recent weeks he has made increasingly critical statements on its handling of the war, as casualties have mounted. Israel’s massive military response since the war began has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry. Aid workers have said Gaza teeters on the verge of a famine.

Here are Biden’s key statements on the war in the nearly six months since it began.

Oct. 7: “My administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.”

Oct. 18: “Israel, you are not alone,” Biden said in a speech in Tel Aviv. “The United States stands with you.” But he also cautioned Israel. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”

Nov 15: “With regard to when is this going to stop, I think it’s going to stop when Hamas no longer maintains the capacity to murder and abuse and just do horrific things to the Israelis.”

Dec. 15: In answer to a question about whether he wants Israel to scale back its assault on Gaza by year’s end: “I want them to be focused on how to save civilian lives — not stop going after Hamas, but be more careful.”

Jan. 8: “I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza. I’ve been using all that I can to do that.”

Feb. 12: “I’ve made clear the United States shares the goal of seeing Hamas defeated and ensuring long-term security for Israel and its people.”

March 5: In answer to a question about a ceasefire: “It’s in the hands of Hamas right now. The Israelis have been cooperating. There’s an offer out there that’s rational.”

March 29: “Imagine if that had happened in the United States,” he said. “Tying a mom and her daughter together, pouring kerosene on them, burning her to death. … It’s understandable Israel has such a profound anger. And Hamas is still there.”

April 1: On the day of the IDF airstrike on World Central Kitchen aide workers: “We’re going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need. No excuses. Because the truth is: Aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough now.”

April 2: “Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians. Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians.”

Odeya Rosenband contributed to this story.

Lauren Markoe is news editor of the Forward. A Bronx native, she reported for The Patriot Ledger, several McClatchy newspapers in the South, and Religion News Service, where she was also managing editor. She also produced live radio shows at WAMU in Washington, D.C., where she lives.

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