President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Thursday, marking their first conversation since Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.
During the call, President Biden pressured Israel to implement a ceasefire agreement.
This conversation comes at a time when the United States is increasingly critical of Israel's actions in the conflict with Hamas fighters in Gaza.
The conflict began after a militant group's attack inside Israel on October 7, which resulted in nearly 1,200 casualties. Israel's military response has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.
In a statement following the call, the White House emphasized President Biden's stance, stating that he "emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable."
The statement also highlighted Biden's call for Israel to announce and implement specific, measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. President Biden made it clear that U.S. policy towards Gaza would be influenced by Israel's immediate actions in these areas.
President Biden also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza without delay.
The White House further stated that the two leaders discussed threats made by Iran against Israel, with the U.S. reaffirming its support for Israel in the face of these threats.
In another statement released earlier, President Biden expressed his disapproval of Monday's airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen.
Biden stated that Israel had not done enough to protect aid workers delivering assistance to civilians in Gaza, expressing his outrage and heartbreak over the incident.
Despite the strained relationship between the Biden administration and Netanyahu's government over the conflict, the U.S. continues to provide military support to Israel.
On the same day as the airstrikes, the U.S. approved the transfer of thousands of bombs to Israel.
Public support for Israel's military actions in Gaza has declined among U.S. adults, according to a recent Gallup poll.
In November, 50% of U.S. adults supported Israel's military actions, but by March, this had dropped to 36%.
Some Democrats in Congress have been increasing pressure on President Biden to push for a change in Israel's approach to the conflict.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Netanyahu an "obstacle to peace" in a speech in March, which Biden praised. Democrats are also advocating for tying further funding to Israel with a ceasefire in Gaza.
Former President Donald Trump, a rival of Biden in the 2024 election, has also criticized Israel's handling of the conflict.
Trump called for a swift end to the conflict, stating that Israel needs to "finish what they started" against Hamas quickly to achieve victory.