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Biden Tells Netanyahu US Policy to Change if Civilian Suffering Not Addressed
(www.improvethenews.org)
- During a Thursday phone call between US Pres. Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden reportedly warned Israel's premier that US policy toward Israel and the war in Gaza will change if it does not implement "steps to address civilian harm." The White House's statement did not include any details regarding a potential shift in policy. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- The US has expressed concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and a potential Israeli operation into Rafah. A meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs reportedly became heated as the two discussed Israel's plans to evacuate civilians before an operation. The Telegraph
- The call came after negotiations resumed again earlier this week, with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh saying on Wednesday that the group would stick to its conditions regarding a hostage deal with Israel — including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of the displaced to their homes, among other goals. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- Indeed, a potential Rafah operation has generated controversy, with Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) saying that he would vote to condition aid to Israel if it were to enter Rafah without making "provision for civilians or for humanitarian aid." Axios
- Meanwhile, Israeli outlet +972 Magazine reported on Wednesday that Israel has been using an AI-based program named "Lavender" to mark "all suspected operatives in the military wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)." The report claimed that the system flagged 37K Palestinians as suspected militants — and their homes — for possible air strikes. +972 Magazine
- The report also claimed that the military purposefully targeted militants at night when they were expected to be at home with their families, as this made it "easier to locate the individuals in their private houses." The rest of the report detailed how the system functions and acquires targets. +972 Magazine
Pro-establishment narrative:
- Israel's war against Hamas is surely just, given the atrocities the group committed during its Oct. 7 attack. However, the Biden administration is losing its patience with Netanyahu's intransigence. Israel must take into account the innocent civilians in Gaza who are trapped between the country's military machine and Hamas's terrorist fighters, as Israel risks pushing Palestinians into Hamas' hands if it does not work to ensure their safety.
NBC (LR: 2 CP: 4)
Pro-Israel narrative:
- Though this has been a tragic war, Israel must eliminate Hamas and restore deterrence with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah. Hamas's military capabilities and infrastructure must be eliminated to ensure Israel's security. To eliminate this capacity for terror, Israel has been forced to use blunt tools to route Hamas forces, as they are so deeply dug into Gaza's civil infrastructure. The international community consistently parrots Hamas propaganda, as Israel worked from the get-go to deliver aid to Gaza and find a solution to end this war.
JERUSALEM POST (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Pro-Palestine narrative:
- Israel continues to demonstrate that its war is not against Hamas but against the Palestinian people as a whole. There already is more than enough evidence to suggest that Israeli forces have consistently targeted civilians, even foreign citizens, in the country's campaign to starve the people of Gaza into submission. Though the US, Israel's biggest ally, likes to wax about civilian casualties, it must instead exert more pressure to end this war for good.
MIDDLE EAST EYE
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 70% chance that Israel will have de facto power in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)