In First Call With Palestinian President Abbas, Biden Discusses Support for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

President Joe Biden has spoken with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians

In his first talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden asked them to allow humanitarian help in the area and expressed his support for protecting civilians.

These calls in Washington happened before Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the U.S. was sending another carrier strike group to help Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stepped up efforts to get international support for stopping the Israel-Hamas conflict from getting worse.

The U.S. is worried about the safety of civilians and the impact of a long-lasting war. Israel told people in Gaza to move to the south, while Hamas told them to stay home. The Biden administration didn't publicly ask Israel to hold back its response to the Hamas attack, but it emphasized that Israel should follow the rules of war.

Biden connected the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different forms of hatred that need to be stopped. He mentioned the recent attack on Jewish people and the crisis in Gaza, where innocent Palestinian families are suffering, even if they have nothing to do with Hamas.

Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and visited the United Arab Emirates to find ways to help civilians in the middle of the conflict and address the growing humanitarian crisis.

Austin also talked with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians. He shared updates on the U.S. efforts to provide air defense capabilities and munitions to Israeli forces to prevent the war from escalating.

Austin announced that the U.S. was sending another carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. This was done to prevent hostile actions against Israel and to stop the war from spreading further after Hamas attacked Israel.

Biden has spoken with Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, but this was his first call to Abbas, who is in charge of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Biden told Abbas that Hamas doesn't represent the dignity and self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Biden assured Netanyahu of unwavering U.S. support for Israel and discussed efforts to ensure that civilians have access to food, water, and medical care.

The number of U.S. citizens killed in the conflict has risen to 29, and 15 are missing. Blinken also spoke to leaders in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and safe passage for those trying to leave Gaza.

An Israeli ground attack would make things worse for civilians in Gaza who already lack power, clean water, and access to aid. The southern Rafah crossing in Egypt was supposed to open to allow foreigners to leave. Israel advised Palestinian civilians to go south to avoid the ongoing offensive in Gaza City.

Blinken also called the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to ask for China's help in preventing the war from spreading. Blinken believes the U.S. and China have a shared interest in stabilizing the region.

In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an expected attack against Hamas. They both condemned the targeting of civilians on both sides.

A U.S. official stated that Washington didn't ask Israel to slow down the evacuation plan, but they did stress the importance of civilian safety. The Israeli leaders acknowledged this guidance.

The U.S. arranged for Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked, leaving those gathered there without any sign of being allowed through.

The U.S. State Department allowed nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their family members to leave the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv.

Prince Faisal said it's crucial for the violence between Israel and Hamas to stop, and he called for a concerted effort to end the cycle of violence.

Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which includes a church, a mosque, and a synagogue, representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words "Light in the Darkness."

Blinken returned to Saudi Arabia, and he's expected to visit Egypt next. He has already visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.