Biden calls Netanyahu, Abbas in wake of deadly Hamas terrorist attack
President Joe Biden's response to the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel has been both praised and criticized.
According to Politico, in one of his latest moves, the president spoke with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Media outlets recently obtained white House readouts of the phone calls.
The phone call with Netanyahu was Biden's fifth such call, while the call with Abbas was his first. Both calls contained different messages.
The calls
Biden's call to Netanyahu reiterated the United States' support for the country.
Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that all countries must “condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” while reiterating U.S. support for Israel.
The president and his administration have vowed to offer whatever support is necessary, but seemingly sent mixed signals later in the week by calling for Israel to follow the "rules of war" in its retaliatory attacks against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
He also warned Israel that occupying Gaza would be a mistake.
In his call to Abbas, Biden pledged humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.
"President Biden condemned Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel and reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination," the White House readout of the call stated.
The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas stated today during a Phone Call with U.S. President Biden that the Actions of Hamas do not Represent the Palestinian People and that he Condemns their recent Attack on Southern Israel. pic.twitter.com/aJx8ApsFKc
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 15, 2023
Civilians top concern
Political battles are brewing over the fate of the innocent Palestinians who were warned by Israel to evacuate but threatened by Hamas to discard the warnings or face death.
Politico noted:
The president spoke to both leaders about coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region to ensure access to water, food and medical care for all civilians.
Both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests have erupted across the world, with some of the protests even supporting the Hamas cowards who beat, killed, tortured and raped Israeli women and children.
All eyes are still on Israel as the country mounts a massive counteroffensive, reportedly to begin imminently.