US President Joe Biden indicated to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Thursday phone call that Washington’s policy regarding the war in Gaza will fundamentally change if Israel doesn’t implement a series of concrete steps to address the humanitarian crisis and protect aid workers, adding that an immediate ceasefire was essential for meeting those aims.

Biden “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers,” according to a White House readout after the leaders held their first call since an accidental IDF strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy on Monday killed seven aid workers.

“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” the White House warned, adding that both recent Israeli strikes on aid workers along with the overall humanitarian situation in the Strip are “unacceptable.”

Asked during a press briefing what kinds of concrete steps the White House would like to see from Israel, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the opening of additional crossings and an increase in the number of aid trucks getting into Gaza would be a start, adding that he expected Israel would announce new reforms in the coming hours and days.

The US readout didn’t elaborate on how Biden might shift his policy regarding the war, but an increasing number of Democrats are pushing for the White House to begin conditioning US aid to Israel or withhold it altogether.

Read More Here