Hamas launches war on Israel

[Jimbuna]

Netanyahu demands US to send weapons on same day of Biden's ultimatum

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Washington speed up the delivery of weapons on the same day he was warned by President Joe Biden that future military aid may depend on how he addresses worries about civilian casualties and an escalating humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu delivered a defiant message in a meeting with visiting Republican members of Congress.

He pushed back firmly on calls for a two-state solution, which is the long-term goal of U.S. policy. In a meeting in Jerusalem with visiting Republicans, organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he said he had a three-pronged message.

'The first is we're going to win. Absolutely. Victory is within reach. It's very close, and there is no substitute for victory,' he said, according to a readout of the meeting provided by his office. 'The second is that it can be made quicker.

'I'll paraphrase someone you all have heard of, Winston Churchill. He said, "Give us the tools and we'll do the job." Give us the tools faster and we'll finish the job faster.' More than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched an offensive in response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7.

The toll includes 200 aid workers and about 100 journalists. But the issue took on added significance in Washington this week when six foreign aid workers, including an American, and a Palestinian driver were killed when their convoy was hit by Israeli Defense Forces strikes.

The dead were working for World Central Kitchen, founded by chef Jose Andres who is well-connected among Washington's elite. In response, Biden ratcheted up the severity of his language and heaped pressure on Netanyahu during a 30-minute phone call on Thursday.

He called for an immediate ceasefire and concrete steps to protect civilians and enable aid to reach the besieged territory. And the White House readout of the call suggested that future military help may now be conditional on those goals.

'He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these steps,' it said. Netanyahu's office offered no readout of its own. But in his other comments Thursday he sounded defiant.

'The third thing is this is, there is a contrary move, an attempt to force, ram down our throats a Palestinian state, which will be another terror haven, another launching ground for an attempt, as was the Hamas state in Gaza,' he said, repeating his well-known opposition to the two-state solution that is backed by Washington and much of the world. 'That is opposed by Israelis, overwhelmingly.'

Later he met with his security cabinet. It approved steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza, a statement said. Moves included reopening the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and the temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel for aid. Israeli leaders had repeatedly rebuffed calls to reopen any more land crossings into Gaza.
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