First Lady Dr. Jill Biden has reportedly been one of the strongest voices in the White House calling for an end to civilian deaths in Gaza, urging her husband, President Joe Biden, to ensure that the violence stops.
In previous days, Biden met with members of the Muslim community and allegedly expressed the First Lady’s disapproval of the President’s support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas, the New York Times reported.
According to Salima Suswell, founder of the Black Muslim Leadership Council, who attended the meeting, Biden told her that Dr. Biden insisted to him, “Stop it, stop it now.”
The First Lady’s request comes at a time when human rights organizations are warning world leaders that innocent Palestinians threatened by hunger and disease are struggling to access humanitarian aid. This week alone, 7 employees of the World Central Kitchen, which delivers food to civilians, were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
White House officials told the New York Times on Wednesday that Biden, like Dr. Biden, shares the same anger and concern for civilians in Gaza.
As the war in Gaza continues, more Democrats are pressing President Biden to do more to increase humanitarian aid and end the violence.
US lawmakers have become less willing to support legislation that favors Israel without provisions requiring countries receiving US military aid to abide by international law.
In the days after the October 7 attack, Biden was an enthusiastic supporter of Israel and sent military aid to Israel in its fight against Hamas. But in recent months, as the conflict has become bloodier and more innocent Palestinians have been killed, his support has become more muted.
Following the killing of 7 employees of the World Central Kitchen, Biden leveled his harshest criticism yet at Israel, saying they “have not done enough” to prevent attacks on innocent people.
Even voters objected to Biden’s position on the war in Gaza and refused to vote for him in the primaries, instead leaving their ballots blank.
It seems that Dr. Biden’s encouragement to the President is linked to his longstanding aversion to American involvement in international conflicts. This is partly because Beau Biden served in the Delaware Army National Guard in 2003 and was forced to deploy to Iraq in 2008.
The First Lady supported the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today.
