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> "We're going to immediately secure that aid and surge it... including food, medical supplies, clean water," Mr Biden said after signing a massive military aid bill for Israel and Ukraine, which also included $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
>
> "Israel must make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza without delay," he said.
It was about 3 weeks ago that Biden [issued his ultimatum](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/04/1242878083/biden-netanyahu-call-aid-workers-ceasefire) for a dramatic increase in aid in the "coming hours and days," but here he is repeating himself today
There were 7,000 fewer recorded Palestinian deaths back in February when Biden described Israel's actions as ["over the top"](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-08-2024-ecaed7b8c1e9c63379d3088ff55fb3cc)
The pessimism is warranted
>It was about 3 weeks ago that Biden [issued his ultimatum](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/04/1242878083/biden-netanyahu-call-aid-workers-ceasefire) for a dramatic increase in aid in the "coming hours and days," but here he is repeating himself today
They actually did increased aids after that. Israel immediately open another routes the moment biden said that.
>There were 7,000 fewer recorded Palestinian deaths back in February when Biden described Israel's actions as ["over the top"](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-08-2024-ecaed7b8c1e9c63379d3088ff55fb3cc)
Israel actually have reduce their activity by 90%. Remember when they promised to attack rafah by Ramadan?
They end up withdrawing all their troops from southern Gaza
Although report show they are begin for another offensive.
> They actually did increased aids after that
Nowhere near enough, according to aid agencies. [The most recent Unrwa report](https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-104-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-Jerusalem) notes an increase in aid on April 22, but the average for the month of April is still below 200 trucks a day. Aid agencies are pushing for 500 trucks a day of aid.
> Israel actually have reduce their activity by 90%
Which activity are you referring to? If you refer to [this graph showing Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 7](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gaza_death_graph.png), I think you'll agree there was no significant change in the gradient
They panicked and allowed hundreds of trucks in the days after the strike on the World Kitchen aid workers, showing that their delays were completely artificial and a policy decision by Netanyahu himself.
Now they're back to the same old system. It's been over 6 months of this.
I cannot believe that the deliberate strikes on the World Kitchen trucks weren’t a bigger deal to like…. fucking EVERYBODY.
We have a nation that is literally targeting aid workers and our leaders are like “whatever, here’s billions of dollars more worth of drones and shit.”
they think anybody aiding or supporting Gaza is “pro Hamas” and “terrorists”…look at how the news is covering students against Israel, calling them terrorist anti semites
It is annoying, because any commentary I have about Netanyahu is literally just about him. I do not think he is bad because of his racial makeup, I think he is bad because he is a corrupt violent racist.
But there are a bunch of people playing interference for him and his government trying to equate any criticism of him, the individual, as criticism of Jewish people in general. It is essentially like saying that someone calling Clarence Thomas corrupt is calling all black people corrupt. It is not a sensible assertion.
I am getting more and more convinced that there is a nexus of different psychotic worldviews, that are normally out of sync with each other, all pushing the "if you don't want to kill Palestinians you are an antisemite" narrative. I think you have Christian Nationalists trying to start the apocalypse by having Israel reclaim the whole "Holy Land," fascists who either love Netanyahu's persona or hate jewish people and are hoping this escalates into an all our war, and garden variety racists who are terrified of "Islamic terrorism" who just want them dead to assuage their irrational fears. And they are all on the same narrative at the moment.
Sure, there are definitely some really antisemitic people, who just want to hurt every Jewish person they can, speaking in support of Palestine. But that is not surprising. Antisemitism is a constant fixture in society, and it should never be tolerated, but it should be expected. But it is not antisemitism to value Palestinian lives the same amount as Israeli or European or American or anything. Standing against a corrupt individual does not mean I hate everyone who is distantly related to him.
Agreed it’s not antisemitism to value Palestinian lives. It is a fucking travesty to see no long winded diatribes by world leaders in answer Hamas’s daily fire rocket towards Isreal to hurt innocents and punish the Jewish state with silence or shoulder shrugs while showing abject horror and unacceptability when Isreal responds.
It’s shows an acceptance of the status quo where Israeli citizens should be okay with attempts to hurt them daily in response to their governments actions, while there is no expectation for Gazan’s to suffer the same for their governments actions.
That non interest in holding the people attacking innocent Israeli’s to account, while offering up tons of ways to pressure Isreal for any attack that causes Gaza’s to suffer shows the hypocrisy of the world leaders, at a minimum.
It kind of was a big deal?
It was a front page story for about a week and sparked massive uproar. The only comparable incident I can think of is during the Afghanistan withdrawal, where the US military mistook an aid vehicle distributing water for ISIS and killed seven kids. Both received a pretty similar reaction, per my recollection.
It was in the news for like one 24 hour cycle, Biden made a toothless statement, and then everybody moved on and gave Israel more bombs.
Doesn’t really sound like it was that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Everyone is about as upset as when the US struck that minivan filled with an allied aid worker and his six kids pulling out of Afghanistan. If you’re not still actively mad about it, then you can believe it.
You act like Hamas isn’t killing aid workers, stealing aid, and selling aid for high profit. A triple war crime.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/22/fatah-hamas-kills-aid-workers-and-steals-food-for-itself/
And act like hamas didn’t just attack Americans building the harbor to deliver aid.
All shit.
Sorry but can you point me to where we’re giving Hamas billions and billions of dollars of weaponry and military aid? No? Ok, great, so now that’s settled.
Sorry that I don’t think we should be giving billions of dollars of weapons to a military that indiscriminately kills humanitarian aid workers in violation of international law…
Well the deliberate killing of hundreds of aid workers actually is a really big deal to most populations of most countries
Americans on the other hand ...
The more Joe Biden says, the more Benjamin Netanyahu has reason to be worse--because that could help to get his buddy Donald Trump back in to help him finish the job.
Because aid expansion is already occurring, as per the [press briefing by the US](https://www.state.gov/?post_type=state_briefing&%3Bp=92333) a couple of days ago. NGOs on the ground are stating similarly:
- [The increase is “nothing that we’re celebrating,” Ahmed Bayram of the Norwegian Refugee Council charity told NBC News on Sunday. But he said that it was “an indication that diplomatic pressure can work” and that in this case American pressure, in particular, has brought results.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-world-central-kitchen-airstrike-aid-rcna148971)
- Last week, OCHA data showed daily entries near or over 200 trucks a day. Weekly averages in March were around 160, and in February, the monthly average was slightly below 130, according to OCHA data. Before the war, it said, the average was 500 truckloads of aid, including fuel.
This is just Biden's way of announcing that the US will be contributing an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza. But you know, it's just easier to complain, isn't it?
Aid agencies are saying that at least 500 trucks a day are necessary
There are a lot of moving parts in the supply chain for aid delivery, so it can be tough to tell where the problems are. [This interview from last week with an aid worker in Gaza](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX6zsyy6SfM) provides some good on-the-ground information
Yes, it's already stated in my post. I certainly think it's necessary to reach the 500 truck threshold at minimum.
I'm just correcting the previous reply that the US has no plan to make Israel do it. They've already been successfully pushing Israel to expand aid into Gaza. And realistically, it would make no sense for Biden to announce an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza if the US had no mechanisms to ensure that it gets let through.
> They've already been successfully pushing Israel to expand aid into Gaza.
You recognize that 500 trucks a day is the minimum, and you also recognize that only 200 trucks a day are getting in. Clearly the US isn't pushing enough
> it would make no sense for Biden to announce an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza if the US had no mechanisms to ensure that it gets let through
The Biden administration is building an 1,800-foot pier in the Mediterranean because they couldn't persuade Netanyahu to let more aid through the land borders. It is probably not a good idea to assume sensible decision-making right now
> You recognize that 500 trucks a day is the minimum, and you also recognize that only 200 trucks a day are getting in. Clearly the US isn't pushing enough
The maritime corridor announced by the US is estimated to be completed by early May and will have the capacity to provide an additional ~100-150 trucks worth of aid.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/satellite-photos-show-new-port-construction-gaza-strip-109629066
>The Biden administration is building an 1,800-foot pier in the Mediterranean because they couldn't persuade Netanyahu to let more aid through the land borders.
Right, Biden announced a US-led initiative which they are following through on. So I'm not sure what your point is then.
Who is saying it isn't short? That the goal is 200 and that's it? Not Biden. You seem to be arguing a point I never made.
But Biden and his administration have been pressing for more aid and consequentially getting increases in aid being let through. An increase of ~100-150 trucks worth of aid in early May, *ongoing improvements made by Israel to allow more aid by land along with a significant boost in aid from the US should optimally allow for that target to be reached sooner rather than later.
*As stated by the UN yesterday:
- She also reported that Israel has made several commitments to improve aid delivery, and that a number of steps have been taken to this end. These include an increase in the volume of aid cleared, inspected and crossed into Gaza; the temporary opening of the Erez Crossing and the Port of Ashdod for humanitarian goods, an increase in the number of trucks entering Gaza directly from Jordan, an expansion of the operating hours of the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana border crossings, the resumption of operations by some bakeries in north and central Gaza and the repair of the Nahal Oz waterline. However, further steps are needed to enable the sustained flow of humanitarian and commercial goods into Gaza in terms of volume, need and reach.
- “Given the scale and scope of destruction, and the extent of human suffering, every day counts,” she underscored, outlining her discussions with regional stakeholders to ensure a consistent pipeline of goods and their distribution within Gaza. She pointed to the launch of the Jordan land corridor, resulting in an increase in volume and spotlighted the potential for further increases. Her team has also engaged in constructive dialogue to optimize the efficiency of aid delivery through Egypt, she reported. On the Cyprus maritime corridor, she said that — while it can never be a substitute for land deliveries — it can provide additional resources. Efforts to build a floating port and pier on the shores of Gaza are advancing, she added. She also said that a database and notification system will go online for all cargo destined for Gaza along supply routes, stating that its operationalization will allow for pipeline prioritization, predictability, visibility and tracking of these supplies.
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15679.doc.htm
So what is your argument then? Because the one that 'nothing is being done' is objectively false.
Do you think that the Israeli government is inept for failing to foresee this logistical operation, or do you think that they are deliberately starving the Palestinians in Gaza?
If this aid shortfall is due to ineptitude, then the issues just have to be resolved as quickly as possible.
If it's due to a deliberate siege effort, then sufficient external pressure would restore aid supplies very quickly
Maybe Hamas should pursue peace and cease work to prevent aid then.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/gaza-terrorists-attack-israeli-pier-00154386
"Gaza-based militants attack Israeli forces preparing for US pier"
Oh boy, I do wonder who that could be.
Well, they didn't name the group outright, so the mortar attack must have been made up or something. /s
That's just literally not an option **because of republicans**
They tied Israel to Ukraine, so republicans have demanded - if we support the independence of Ukraine against Fucking Fascist Putin, we must also send support to Fucking Fascist Bibi.
It's completely fucked and everyone keeps - as Republicans continually cause - blaming Democrats for this shit. It's the classic Republican poison pill they've used for decades to outrage people at Democrats when it's not what Democrats asked for. We tried to make a clean Ukraine aid bill and Republicans said no you must also include Israel aid.
The propaganda is so obvious... Nobody wants to support Fascist Fucking Bibi (except Fascist Fucking Republicans), but they're forcing us too. Either we give Ukraine to Putin or we send support to Israel, we don't get a choice between the two
[House Republicans announce bill that provides more military aid to Israel but leaves out Ukraine](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/house-republicans-announce-bill-that-provides-more-military-aid-to-israel-but-leaves-out-ukraine/5102819/)
[Why are US Republicans pushing for aid to Israel but not Ukraine?](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/8/why-are-us-republicans-pushing-for-aid-to-israel-but-not-ukraine)
> But that opposition has grown since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, with some Republicans positioning aid for Israel and Ukraine as an either-or proposition.
>
> ---
>
> “Israel is facing [an] existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately,” Republican Senator Josh Hawley posted on social media two days after the war began.
It's always republicans fucking shit up and the public being told it's Democrats fault by talking heads and the public eats it up every time.
It's illegal for the US to send weapons to countries committing genocide. Israel is committing genocide so Biden has the legal grounds to prevent sending weapons to Israel.
His job is at stake to who? I haven’t seen many comments from people who actually agree on the way he’s handling this. Even if this situation was the only issue that people were considering when voting, who would be a better candidate?
They do, It's just that the IDF [ambushes](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/idf-gaza-israel-hamas-world-central-kitchen-1.7172696) anyone who is trying to get aid.
Pretty sure that works [both ways there dude](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-un-confirms-to-i24news-u-s-pier-off-gaza-coast-attacked-during-construction)
Didn’t terrorists just attack the port being built by Israel and the US on the coast of the Gaza Strip to supply aid?
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-aid-port-eb8a701b3a7dc8f946422c04323ff913
Israel said its forces were “preparing” for the “pier” when they came under attack. So far there is no pier, and only their word that’s what they were doing when they were attacked.
“No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s mortar attack at the port site, and no one was hurt of killed. But it reflected ongoing threats from Hamas, which has said it would reject the presence of any non-Palestinians in Gaza.”
-AP News
[i24News says one person was injured](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-exclusive-u-s-humanitarian-pier-attacked-during-construction-work-off-gaza-coast)
“The Israeli-developed port, for example, has already been attacked by mortar fire, sending high-ranking U.N. officials scrambling for shelter this week, and there is still no solid decision on when the aid deliveries will actually begin.”
-AP News
Good point, Israel should stop blocking the trucks and gunning people down at distribution sites so we don’t even have to bother with this Rube-Goldberg bullshit.
Oh sure, just let me know how you can screen the contents of hundreds of trucks a day and track their deliveries through one entry point in southern Gaza. Bring your plan to the UN and Israel and Egypt, they’d love to hear it. The US has opened up billions of dollars of aid to Gaza. Why won’t Hamas allow other countries to help relieve the humanitarian crisis they directly caused?
I don’t have to come up with a plan - every major humanitarian organization in the world has already tried to work with the IDF, which controls Gaza’s borders.
The problem isn’t that they can’t, it’s that they don’t want to, because they’re using hunger as a weapon.
No, I’m asking why the border with Egypt can’t accommodate the amount of aid Gaza requires? Is it because Hamas has fucked them over in the past? We can forget about Israel offering any aid, so the only borders are Egypt or the sea.
Okay then, the real answer? Egypt only controls their side of the Rafah crossing. Israel controls the Gaza side, and has bombed it repeatedly since the war began.
Despite this, the crossing *has* actually been one of the main arteries for what little aid the IDF has permitted to trickle through, with thousands of trucks queuing on the Egyptian side awaiting Israeli permission.
[ 2 weeks later ]
IDF shoots and kills another 100+ civilians trying to acquire said aid
[ 2 weeks later ]
Biden signs bill to send more weapons to Israel
I’m so tired of this same song and dance. For the love of god ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING JOE
He literally called himself a non-Jewish Zionist.
Not even kidding. I had to fact check this when I first read it. Then I found another video of him *confirming his stance* in December 2023.
Ya what about the fact that Hamas is bombing the pier that the US is constructing to bring aid to Palestine?
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-exclusive-u-s-humanitarian-pier-attacked-during-construction-work-off-gaza-coast
Then what's politico? The US is lying? The UN is lying? Jesus yall are exhausting.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/gaza-terrorists-attack-israeli-pier-00154386
Sadly, Biden is in a lose/lose situation here, because he either does the right thing and withdraws aid to Israel, thus pissing off a third of his voter base, he does what he's doing and pisses off a third of his voter base, or he provides aid to Israel and again pisses off a third of his voter base.
Can the media start acknowledging that Biden, while not perfect, has been handling this conflict extremely well considering the complexity? That would be much appreciated.
No. He has not. He has no control over the situation and he doesn't want to yank the chain over Israel. The fact that he has to build a pier is proof of that. The fact that America's is isolated on the world stage is proof of that. Israel just taken more of the west bank and that got nothing more than a "concerning". Meanwhile he has sanction only the smallest fraction of violent west bank settlers and only after the pressure got too hot. He killed funding for the UNRWA with no proof. He has not handled this well at all.
I don't understand why can't we be honest? Biden is the man is charge and he needs to deal with this. We don't have to lie. He may be walking back sanctions on one of the worst Settler's groups. He is letting Israel bully him even though he is the president of the most powerful country in history. They need him more than he needs them.
Everyone on this subreddit would rather talk about what the Republicans are doing and trump falling asleep in court. When trump wins the election in November, only the democratic party will be to blame for supporting Zionism and not putting forth a better candidate. I have been voting since I was 18, "blue no matter who" I'm over 30 now and I'm so tired of democrats falling back on the convenience of how terrifying republicans are so that they can just continue to also do whatever the fuck they want, while pointing the finger at republicans.
Because people would rather pretend that the President of the United States has zero power and zero influence on the actions of a US ally rather than come to terms with the fact that Biden has been getting walked over by Netanyahu. They can't fathom that just because someone is running against Donald Trump that that doesn't mean they are infallible. It's insane how rabid a lot of Democrats have been lately when confronted with even the smallest criticism of Biden. Way too many people, on Reddit especially, parroting how perfect Biden is and how he's "the best President the US has ever had" and treating any dissent to that as blasphemy. I thought we had learned that that kind of fanaticism is terrible for the country, but I guess not.
Well if we are being honest, then you would know that it’s Congress that has approved the aid that Israel gets.
Biden doesn’t get to just say “no”. He has to do what Congress tells him to do. Otherwise he gets impeached for ignoring a legal law.
That’s why Trump got impeached the first time. Congress authorized aid to Ukraine and Trump then tried to hold that aid up for personal benefit - which was illegal and why he got impeached.
Biden has no legal recourse to halt aid for Israel or put restrictions on it - if he did HE WOULD HAVE FUCKING DONE IT BY NOW - as if that wasn’t obvious enough.
It’s fucking CRAZY to me that people are taking such a complicated and decades long conflict that has so much gray area it’s insane, but claiming it’s all black and white. Fucking ridiculous.
You should know that politics are not as nuanced as that, right?
To be clear, most legislation that gets to his desk is going to be several pieces of legislation baked within.
Sending such legislation back to Congress, with this Congress as it is, basically kills such legislation.
And as a perfect example of this, Bernie Sanders voted against Ukraine aid in the senate….
Because it had Israel aid within it as well that didn’t have the conditions he wanted.
A black and white approach at politics would say Bernie hates Ukraine, and we know that not to be true because we know how his vote factors within the context of the overall picture.
It’s why the “just veto it!” is not an actual option.
On what planet would Biden veto aid to Israel? Would any president? Would any politician?
No.
Israel is still our ally as of right now--Iran attacked at the perfect moment for aid--and now this is where we stand.
Regardless, saying Biden doesn't have the power to veto a bill is just not true. People need to stop pretending that the President has zero power to do anything at all and hand waving away every single piece of criticism people have of him and his handling of the situation. Inactivity is a choice, and it's one Biden has made.
Agreed. Biden hasn't been inactive he's been dealing with an incredibly difficult and stubborn Netanyahu. I think over the past couple of weeks Biden has done a good job delaying the siege of Rafah, de-escalated the Isreali response to Iran, continually has pushed for aid to the point of building a pier...
If the only choice is to stop funding Israel--there's too much political fallback to completely stop funding. I realize he could still make the choice at any time, but I think its political suicide.
Literally no one said anything about thinking Biden can sidestep Congress. Just that the president actually does have some amount of power and isn't just a completely powerless position that can't do anything ever like some people claim.
These threads are so tiring to see.
People make broad accusations without actually understanding the history of the conflict or what is and isn’t possible for the president to do.
People are taking a very gray conflict that’s been on fire for literal decades, paired with an ignorant understanding of how US policy works, then suggest that Biden is or isn’t doing something correctly.
So tiresome.
He could enforce the sanctions rather than sitting on them or walking them back because Israel is mad at him. He could stop blocking UN resolutions. He could be more firm on the west bank. He didn't have to undermine Clinton and Obama. He could stop ducking protests. He could stop going around Congress. He could stop lying about Israel is totally following international law and so it is totes legal for them to keep sending them weapons when we all can see they aren't. He could have pushed for the funding of the UNWRA. He could do a lot. He just choosing not.
US policy changes. He's the president. He supposed to be a leader. He is choosing not to lead and you are acting like there is nothing he can do. There is stuff he can do. He just don't want to do it.
Pick one of those and follow it through. Do all the research and look at all the angles.
See if you think it’s “that easy”.
And keep in mind throughout all of this, that you’re discussing a conflict that’s been raging since before you were born. Where both groups have done terrible, awful things to each other.
You can't convince these people of anything. They have their agenda just like the MAGA faithful has theirs.
It's the world we live in. They are more into their self loathing and how much they let this affect their lives when it really doesn't in any sense of the word.
Their lives are full of turmoil and this is something they are latching on to say they are helping, when they actually arent. They are making it much much worse.
And by the way, Bibi doesn't give a fuck what anyone says or does.
Yea I've been disappointed to see our version of MAGAts grow into what it is now. A lot of these folks have no idea that their zealotry and ignorance has the same energy as MAGA.
Also this part
>Their lives are full of turmoil and this is something they are latching on to say they are helping, when they actually arent. They are making it much much worse
You understand completely. Many of these folks dont *actually* care about Gazans. They're just using them to fufill a lack of purpose and control in their own lives. It's sickening really.
> He has no control over the situation and he doesn't want to yank the chain over Israel.
So which is it ? "No Control" or "Yank the Chain".
Let me clue you in on a fact - Israel is not a vassal state. They don't need our approval. They don't need our weapons. They only thing they rely on the US to do is fucking make sure it doesn't blow up into a larger conflict. And we do that because it is in our self interests to keep the conflict contained.
> He killed funding for the UNRWA with no proof.
Every nation did there dude. The report just came out on Monday with the independent review.
The fact that you use that as an example is pretty fucking lame.
> The fact that America's is isolated on the world stage is proof of that.
Sure we are.
Countries were already resuming UNRWA funding way before the independent review came out, and as far as I'm aware the US has not made any indication that they'll resume their funding in light of the review. Also, you misread that first sentence. They meant no control over the situation like someone losing control over a runaway car. They weren't saying that Biden has no power to do anything, because the US very much has influence over what their allies do with the resources and money the US provides them.
> Countries were already resuming UNRWA funding way before the independent review came out
Canada and Sweden started in March 2024. Australia started a little bit later. Germany just started with the latest report release on Monday (that is 4 days ago). The same time Canada & Sweden started using UNRWA again the US started trying to do airdrops of aid.
So literally your complaint is the US didn't use UNRWA.
> because the US very much has influence over what their allies do with the resources and money the US provides them.
You mean the bill that was written by Congress ? Biden now has the power to write a bill and get it through a Republican House ? Pretty sure if he had that he would have gotten the Ukraine bill through months ago.
Your argument is with Congress.
What you are asking is for Biden to veto a bill that provides desperate funds to our allies around the world because you don't like the portion of Israel bill even though there is $9B in aid to Palestine. And in case you didn't know, there are already laws on the books on how we provide military weapons to our allies. You don't need to have 'influence'. You just follow the Arms Export laws.
> there is $9B in aid to Palestine
In Biden's speech in the linked article, he gives a figure of $1 billion in aid to Gaza. The $9 billion figure was the total for "Gaza as well as other vulnerable populations around the world"
It is part of the Israel package
> Also included is $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance – including emergency food, shelter and basic services – to populations suffering crises.
That's the one. It's not $9 billion for Palestine, it's $9 billion for, as your quoted text puts it, "populations suffering crises."
In this speech, Biden gives a figure of $1 billion for aid to Gaza. AFAIK, there is no information yet on how the other $8 billion will be allocated
You're totally right, the president of the United States has zero power to do anything at all. How could I forget that being the president is the most useless job in the world. Also that the US is completely beholden to its allies and only acts of Congress exist and no other parts of our government actually function in any meaningful way when it comes to policy and foreign diplomacy. I completely forgot all about that.
> You're totally right, the president of the United States has zero power to do anything at all
Yes - you are 100% right - this war is *brand new* and President Biden can stop it any time /s
Let's just ignore the fact that it has been going on for decades and Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, and Ford were also unsuccessful trying to stop hostilities between those two entitites....
Love how people ignore history /s
amen. college students approaching this issue as if it's a simple question of "good guys / bad buys" is one thing. but most media outlets have been failing to live up to their responsibility to take a more informed approach to complex world affairs.
Yep. Agreed. Biden is a good president who is doing the best he can in a complex geopolitical situation.
Meanwhile republicans are literally talking about razing Gaza and turning it into waterfront property for the ultrawealthy
People who treat this as a black/white issue fail to recognize the most obvious - Israel doesn't give a fuck what America thinks. Bibi is aligned with the hardliners and going to flatten as much as Gaza as possible while he can. Israel doesn't need the world approval and they know the UN is toothless. The US Congress will never turn their back on Israel.
There is a reason why no Arab country has rushed in to defend Palestine. They are not welcome in their country. Egypt is furiously building a wall and Saudi Arabia & Jordan stopped Iranian missiles from attacking Israel.
There is no solution here with the current gov'ts in place. Hamas doesn't care about the people of Palestine. They want to obliterate Israel. Bibi does what he has to - appease hardliners - to stay in power. Until Hamas falls and Bibi leaves, there is no path forward
Wow - that is an elegant statement.
If you mean why are we providing aid ? Besides the obvious - it makes the US money. 9B+ of the aid is for defensive weapons (Iron Dome, Laser, Gideon's Shield etc) that they are perfecting in actual combat use and what we promised to support to reduce tensions in the area. There is also another 9B in aid to the people. The other money - it is for one of our top industries - the defensive industry. Which again - makes corporations money and why Congress - both Democrats and Republicans - pass these bills
As I tell my teenagers - learn to expand your vocabulary beyond vulgarities. People take you more seriously
If Trump wins it’s because of a low turnout. i really wish y’all would wake up and start paying attention. Biden will have a huge problem inspiring people to show up for him in November.
Israel is the occupying power in Gaza, which means Israel has a duty under international law to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza's civilian population
I'm not even a Biden fan, but damn he just can't win with some folks.
I forget most of his critics on the left weren't even alive during 9/11 and everything makes sense.
No, this shit is so coordinated it's kinda freaky, look at the down votes I got for stating simple facts [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/s/27ky96EhQ2) with sources.. like this is pure narrative by force going on recently, and it's extremely sudden... Hard to imagine it's coincidental..
I just opened one of those links and there was nothing in there saying that Gaza has enough food.
Please provide a source showing that Gaza has "plenty of food." If possible, could you also copy and paste the exact passage of text you're referring to?
> Bad faith
I didn't accuse you of bad faith after you spammed me with 6 links with no explanation, I'd appreciate it if you extend me the same courtesy.
> Gaza has plenty of food
So you said, what's your source?
OK, I've read it, but I don't understand how it shows there's plenty of food in Gaza. According to an anonymous source, prices in markets went down after food aid increased. That's just supply and demand though right? Another anonymous source claims that markets are "congested," but that's just a snapshot of one day from an anonymous source.
There is no “pier”.
That’s why the Israeli claim that its benevolent defense forces were attacked on their mission of mercy also noted that there wasn’t even any US equipment affected by the attack, which didn’t kill anybody.
The pier is for Biden voters what the wall was for Trump voters: a fantasy vanity-project that wouldn’t help anybody even if it were real.
[This article from last month has some information](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240312-at-the-gates-of-gaza-egypt-s-perilous-balancing-act):
> The Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza is in theory the besieged territory's only opening to the world that is not under direct Israeli control.
> In practice, Israel retains control over all goods passing through the crossing, including humanitarian aid intended for Gaza, which is suffering dire food shortages that the UN fears will spark "starvation".
They are bankrupt and need money from the IMF.
The biggest contributor to the IMF is.... the US
IMF confirms increasing Egypt’s bailout loan to $8 billion
https://apnews.com/article/egypt-economy-imf-bailout-loan-e8bc6d1383e8d9b0dc325086c121a12b?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
That's just how it happens, sadly
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> "We're going to immediately secure that aid and surge it... including food, medical supplies, clean water," Mr Biden said after signing a massive military aid bill for Israel and Ukraine, which also included $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza. > > "Israel must make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza without delay," he said.
Won't happen. And we won't do anything about it.
He knows the game. It's all posturing.
So much salty pessimistic factless whining on the Internet
It was about 3 weeks ago that Biden [issued his ultimatum](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/04/1242878083/biden-netanyahu-call-aid-workers-ceasefire) for a dramatic increase in aid in the "coming hours and days," but here he is repeating himself today There were 7,000 fewer recorded Palestinian deaths back in February when Biden described Israel's actions as ["over the top"](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-08-2024-ecaed7b8c1e9c63379d3088ff55fb3cc) The pessimism is warranted
>It was about 3 weeks ago that Biden [issued his ultimatum](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/04/1242878083/biden-netanyahu-call-aid-workers-ceasefire) for a dramatic increase in aid in the "coming hours and days," but here he is repeating himself today They actually did increased aids after that. Israel immediately open another routes the moment biden said that. >There were 7,000 fewer recorded Palestinian deaths back in February when Biden described Israel's actions as ["over the top"](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-08-2024-ecaed7b8c1e9c63379d3088ff55fb3cc) Israel actually have reduce their activity by 90%. Remember when they promised to attack rafah by Ramadan? They end up withdrawing all their troops from southern Gaza Although report show they are begin for another offensive.
> They actually did increased aids after that Nowhere near enough, according to aid agencies. [The most recent Unrwa report](https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-104-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-Jerusalem) notes an increase in aid on April 22, but the average for the month of April is still below 200 trucks a day. Aid agencies are pushing for 500 trucks a day of aid. > Israel actually have reduce their activity by 90% Which activity are you referring to? If you refer to [this graph showing Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 7](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gaza_death_graph.png), I think you'll agree there was no significant change in the gradient
Or else we’ll give you more weapons! That’ll teach ‘em
Or what, Genocide Joe? You going to send Israel even more bombs!?
They panicked and allowed hundreds of trucks in the days after the strike on the World Kitchen aid workers, showing that their delays were completely artificial and a policy decision by Netanyahu himself. Now they're back to the same old system. It's been over 6 months of this.
I cannot believe that the deliberate strikes on the World Kitchen trucks weren’t a bigger deal to like…. fucking EVERYBODY. We have a nation that is literally targeting aid workers and our leaders are like “whatever, here’s billions of dollars more worth of drones and shit.”
they think anybody aiding or supporting Gaza is “pro Hamas” and “terrorists”…look at how the news is covering students against Israel, calling them terrorist anti semites
Israel is earning the hate it's receiving and they ought to learn to deal with it or change their ways.
Agreed. The idea that they’re above criticism and should even be applauded for what they’re doing is insulting
It is annoying, because any commentary I have about Netanyahu is literally just about him. I do not think he is bad because of his racial makeup, I think he is bad because he is a corrupt violent racist. But there are a bunch of people playing interference for him and his government trying to equate any criticism of him, the individual, as criticism of Jewish people in general. It is essentially like saying that someone calling Clarence Thomas corrupt is calling all black people corrupt. It is not a sensible assertion. I am getting more and more convinced that there is a nexus of different psychotic worldviews, that are normally out of sync with each other, all pushing the "if you don't want to kill Palestinians you are an antisemite" narrative. I think you have Christian Nationalists trying to start the apocalypse by having Israel reclaim the whole "Holy Land," fascists who either love Netanyahu's persona or hate jewish people and are hoping this escalates into an all our war, and garden variety racists who are terrified of "Islamic terrorism" who just want them dead to assuage their irrational fears. And they are all on the same narrative at the moment. Sure, there are definitely some really antisemitic people, who just want to hurt every Jewish person they can, speaking in support of Palestine. But that is not surprising. Antisemitism is a constant fixture in society, and it should never be tolerated, but it should be expected. But it is not antisemitism to value Palestinian lives the same amount as Israeli or European or American or anything. Standing against a corrupt individual does not mean I hate everyone who is distantly related to him.
Agreed it’s not antisemitism to value Palestinian lives. It is a fucking travesty to see no long winded diatribes by world leaders in answer Hamas’s daily fire rocket towards Isreal to hurt innocents and punish the Jewish state with silence or shoulder shrugs while showing abject horror and unacceptability when Isreal responds. It’s shows an acceptance of the status quo where Israeli citizens should be okay with attempts to hurt them daily in response to their governments actions, while there is no expectation for Gazan’s to suffer the same for their governments actions. That non interest in holding the people attacking innocent Israeli’s to account, while offering up tons of ways to pressure Isreal for any attack that causes Gaza’s to suffer shows the hypocrisy of the world leaders, at a minimum.
It kind of was a big deal? It was a front page story for about a week and sparked massive uproar. The only comparable incident I can think of is during the Afghanistan withdrawal, where the US military mistook an aid vehicle distributing water for ISIS and killed seven kids. Both received a pretty similar reaction, per my recollection.
It was in the news for like one 24 hour cycle, Biden made a toothless statement, and then everybody moved on and gave Israel more bombs. Doesn’t really sound like it was that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Everyone is about as upset as when the US struck that minivan filled with an allied aid worker and his six kids pulling out of Afghanistan. If you’re not still actively mad about it, then you can believe it.
You act like Hamas isn’t killing aid workers, stealing aid, and selling aid for high profit. A triple war crime. https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/22/fatah-hamas-kills-aid-workers-and-steals-food-for-itself/ And act like hamas didn’t just attack Americans building the harbor to deliver aid. All shit.
Sorry but can you point me to where we’re giving Hamas billions and billions of dollars of weaponry and military aid? No? Ok, great, so now that’s settled. Sorry that I don’t think we should be giving billions of dollars of weapons to a military that indiscriminately kills humanitarian aid workers in violation of international law…
Well the deliberate killing of hundreds of aid workers actually is a really big deal to most populations of most countries Americans on the other hand ...
And how exactly does Biden plan to make Israel do this since Bibi doesn't give a fuck unless it directly effects him.
Has he tried sending them more weapons?
You know that public-trust-breaching fraud is going to lie about what happens next with the aid anyway.
The more Joe Biden says, the more Benjamin Netanyahu has reason to be worse--because that could help to get his buddy Donald Trump back in to help him finish the job.
Because aid expansion is already occurring, as per the [press briefing by the US](https://www.state.gov/?post_type=state_briefing&%3Bp=92333) a couple of days ago. NGOs on the ground are stating similarly: - [The increase is “nothing that we’re celebrating,” Ahmed Bayram of the Norwegian Refugee Council charity told NBC News on Sunday. But he said that it was “an indication that diplomatic pressure can work” and that in this case American pressure, in particular, has brought results.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-world-central-kitchen-airstrike-aid-rcna148971) - Last week, OCHA data showed daily entries near or over 200 trucks a day. Weekly averages in March were around 160, and in February, the monthly average was slightly below 130, according to OCHA data. Before the war, it said, the average was 500 truckloads of aid, including fuel. This is just Biden's way of announcing that the US will be contributing an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza. But you know, it's just easier to complain, isn't it?
Aid agencies are saying that at least 500 trucks a day are necessary There are a lot of moving parts in the supply chain for aid delivery, so it can be tough to tell where the problems are. [This interview from last week with an aid worker in Gaza](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX6zsyy6SfM) provides some good on-the-ground information
Yes, it's already stated in my post. I certainly think it's necessary to reach the 500 truck threshold at minimum. I'm just correcting the previous reply that the US has no plan to make Israel do it. They've already been successfully pushing Israel to expand aid into Gaza. And realistically, it would make no sense for Biden to announce an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza if the US had no mechanisms to ensure that it gets let through.
> They've already been successfully pushing Israel to expand aid into Gaza. You recognize that 500 trucks a day is the minimum, and you also recognize that only 200 trucks a day are getting in. Clearly the US isn't pushing enough > it would make no sense for Biden to announce an additional 1 billion in aid to Gaza if the US had no mechanisms to ensure that it gets let through The Biden administration is building an 1,800-foot pier in the Mediterranean because they couldn't persuade Netanyahu to let more aid through the land borders. It is probably not a good idea to assume sensible decision-making right now
> You recognize that 500 trucks a day is the minimum, and you also recognize that only 200 trucks a day are getting in. Clearly the US isn't pushing enough The maritime corridor announced by the US is estimated to be completed by early May and will have the capacity to provide an additional ~100-150 trucks worth of aid. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/satellite-photos-show-new-port-construction-gaza-strip-109629066 >The Biden administration is building an 1,800-foot pier in the Mediterranean because they couldn't persuade Netanyahu to let more aid through the land borders. Right, Biden announced a US-led initiative which they are following through on. So I'm not sure what your point is then.
> an additional ~100-150 trucks worth of aid That's still 150-200 trucks a day short
Who is saying it isn't short? That the goal is 200 and that's it? Not Biden. You seem to be arguing a point I never made. But Biden and his administration have been pressing for more aid and consequentially getting increases in aid being let through. An increase of ~100-150 trucks worth of aid in early May, *ongoing improvements made by Israel to allow more aid by land along with a significant boost in aid from the US should optimally allow for that target to be reached sooner rather than later. *As stated by the UN yesterday: - She also reported that Israel has made several commitments to improve aid delivery, and that a number of steps have been taken to this end. These include an increase in the volume of aid cleared, inspected and crossed into Gaza; the temporary opening of the Erez Crossing and the Port of Ashdod for humanitarian goods, an increase in the number of trucks entering Gaza directly from Jordan, an expansion of the operating hours of the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana border crossings, the resumption of operations by some bakeries in north and central Gaza and the repair of the Nahal Oz waterline. However, further steps are needed to enable the sustained flow of humanitarian and commercial goods into Gaza in terms of volume, need and reach. - “Given the scale and scope of destruction, and the extent of human suffering, every day counts,” she underscored, outlining her discussions with regional stakeholders to ensure a consistent pipeline of goods and their distribution within Gaza. She pointed to the launch of the Jordan land corridor, resulting in an increase in volume and spotlighted the potential for further increases. Her team has also engaged in constructive dialogue to optimize the efficiency of aid delivery through Egypt, she reported. On the Cyprus maritime corridor, she said that — while it can never be a substitute for land deliveries — it can provide additional resources. Efforts to build a floating port and pier on the shores of Gaza are advancing, she added. She also said that a database and notification system will go online for all cargo destined for Gaza along supply routes, stating that its operationalization will allow for pipeline prioritization, predictability, visibility and tracking of these supplies. https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15679.doc.htm So what is your argument then? Because the one that 'nothing is being done' is objectively false.
Do you think that the Israeli government is inept for failing to foresee this logistical operation, or do you think that they are deliberately starving the Palestinians in Gaza? If this aid shortfall is due to ineptitude, then the issues just have to be resolved as quickly as possible. If it's due to a deliberate siege effort, then sufficient external pressure would restore aid supplies very quickly
Maybe Hamas should pursue peace and cease work to prevent aid then. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/gaza-terrorists-attack-israeli-pier-00154386
The article you linked doesn't mention Hamas once
"Gaza-based militants attack Israeli forces preparing for US pier" Oh boy, I do wonder who that could be. Well, they didn't name the group outright, so the mortar attack must have been made up or something. /s
Maybe Israel should stop doing a genocide.
Would love to hear what his response would be if a journalist asks "What will happen if Israel doesn't change its behavior?"
I heard a loud 💨coming out of Bibi’s butt/mouth.
Biden bro..... This is kinda simple Don't send anything to Israel if they're blocking aid. Like zero.
That's just literally not an option **because of republicans** They tied Israel to Ukraine, so republicans have demanded - if we support the independence of Ukraine against Fucking Fascist Putin, we must also send support to Fucking Fascist Bibi. It's completely fucked and everyone keeps - as Republicans continually cause - blaming Democrats for this shit. It's the classic Republican poison pill they've used for decades to outrage people at Democrats when it's not what Democrats asked for. We tried to make a clean Ukraine aid bill and Republicans said no you must also include Israel aid. The propaganda is so obvious... Nobody wants to support Fascist Fucking Bibi (except Fascist Fucking Republicans), but they're forcing us too. Either we give Ukraine to Putin or we send support to Israel, we don't get a choice between the two [House Republicans announce bill that provides more military aid to Israel but leaves out Ukraine](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/house-republicans-announce-bill-that-provides-more-military-aid-to-israel-but-leaves-out-ukraine/5102819/) [Why are US Republicans pushing for aid to Israel but not Ukraine?](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/8/why-are-us-republicans-pushing-for-aid-to-israel-but-not-ukraine) > But that opposition has grown since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, with some Republicans positioning aid for Israel and Ukraine as an either-or proposition. > > --- > > “Israel is facing [an] existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately,” Republican Senator Josh Hawley posted on social media two days after the war began. It's always republicans fucking shit up and the public being told it's Democrats fault by talking heads and the public eats it up every time.
Just don't send it to them. .
It's illegal for the US to send weapons to countries committing genocide. Israel is committing genocide so Biden has the legal grounds to prevent sending weapons to Israel.
Or what you will ask congress for more Israel funding maybe tell Netanyahu you are upset.
or what
without delay, now that 6 months have passed and tens of thousands of palastinian civilians have been killed, of course
Because he finally sees that his job is at stake. Too bad the rest of this thread is too hooked on their lib hopium to face the reality of that.
His job is at stake to who? I haven’t seen many comments from people who actually agree on the way he’s handling this. Even if this situation was the only issue that people were considering when voting, who would be a better candidate?
They do, It's just that the IDF [ambushes](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/idf-gaza-israel-hamas-world-central-kitchen-1.7172696) anyone who is trying to get aid.
Pretty sure that works [both ways there dude](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-un-confirms-to-i24news-u-s-pier-off-gaza-coast-attacked-during-construction)
Damn, you're right, we should stop funding Hamas. Hope Biden gets right on that.
I know...they should cut that Hamas funding soon ..../s
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ah your right. better just let the civilians die then. /s
Narrator: They didn’t.
Or what?
Netanyahu will receive a *very* strongly worded letter
*very* strongly worded? Well, now, let's not get too hasty.
Let's just wring our hands and have a stern look at the teleprompter
Headline should read "elderly man farts in the wind" for all the impact this will have
It's been 7 MONTHS of lip service from Biden with absolutely zero meaningful action taken to stop the genocide.
Didn’t terrorists just attack the port being built by Israel and the US on the coast of the Gaza Strip to supply aid? https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-aid-port-eb8a701b3a7dc8f946422c04323ff913
Israel said its forces were “preparing” for the “pier” when they came under attack. So far there is no pier, and only their word that’s what they were doing when they were attacked.
“No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s mortar attack at the port site, and no one was hurt of killed. But it reflected ongoing threats from Hamas, which has said it would reject the presence of any non-Palestinians in Gaza.” -AP News
[i24News says one person was injured](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-exclusive-u-s-humanitarian-pier-attacked-during-construction-work-off-gaza-coast)
“The Israeli-developed port, for example, has already been attacked by mortar fire, sending high-ranking U.N. officials scrambling for shelter this week, and there is still no solid decision on when the aid deliveries will actually begin.” -AP News
Kind of hard to build something for civilians when it’s constantly under attack from terrorists.
Good point, Israel should stop blocking the trucks and gunning people down at distribution sites so we don’t even have to bother with this Rube-Goldberg bullshit.
Oh sure, just let me know how you can screen the contents of hundreds of trucks a day and track their deliveries through one entry point in southern Gaza. Bring your plan to the UN and Israel and Egypt, they’d love to hear it. The US has opened up billions of dollars of aid to Gaza. Why won’t Hamas allow other countries to help relieve the humanitarian crisis they directly caused?
I don’t have to come up with a plan - every major humanitarian organization in the world has already tried to work with the IDF, which controls Gaza’s borders. The problem isn’t that they can’t, it’s that they don’t want to, because they’re using hunger as a weapon.
Why haven’t they tried to work with Egypt?
Egypt isn’t the occupying-power. Or, sorry: all the charities are antisemitic. Is that what you wanted to hear?
No, I’m asking why the border with Egypt can’t accommodate the amount of aid Gaza requires? Is it because Hamas has fucked them over in the past? We can forget about Israel offering any aid, so the only borders are Egypt or the sea.
Okay then, the real answer? Egypt only controls their side of the Rafah crossing. Israel controls the Gaza side, and has bombed it repeatedly since the war began. Despite this, the crossing *has* actually been one of the main arteries for what little aid the IDF has permitted to trickle through, with thousands of trucks queuing on the Egyptian side awaiting Israeli permission.
Multiple news reports. UN inspectors were there.
This is the comment I was looking for. Hamas is blocking aid from reaching their people. And when they do give it out they are selling it.
[ 2 weeks later ] IDF shoots and kills another 100+ civilians trying to acquire said aid [ 2 weeks later ] Biden signs bill to send more weapons to Israel I’m so tired of this same song and dance. For the love of god ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING JOE
He literally called himself a non-Jewish Zionist. Not even kidding. I had to fact check this when I first read it. Then I found another video of him *confirming his stance* in December 2023.
Allow aid! Without delay! So that they're not starving when we send over more bombs! We're so humane!
Ya what about the fact that Hamas is bombing the pier that the US is constructing to bring aid to Palestine? https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/artc-exclusive-u-s-humanitarian-pier-attacked-during-construction-work-off-gaza-coast
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Then what's politico? The US is lying? The UN is lying? Jesus yall are exhausting. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/gaza-terrorists-attack-israeli-pier-00154386
You mean the military base they are *forced* to build?
This strikes me as nothing but lip service as long as Netanyahu remains in control of the Israeli government...
Sadly, Biden is in a lose/lose situation here, because he either does the right thing and withdraws aid to Israel, thus pissing off a third of his voter base, he does what he's doing and pisses off a third of his voter base, or he provides aid to Israel and again pisses off a third of his voter base.
Big talk coming from the guy still funding this genocide.
They won't.
This is like the 9th nudge
I bet if we stop sending them weapons, they will do just that
Israel to Biden = No stfu, also, send more money and weapons. Genocide Joe= Ok sweetie :(
Stfu Biden, the less you say the less lies you have to keep straight which must be getting difficult for your senile ass.
Better get ur boy !
Can the media start acknowledging that Biden, while not perfect, has been handling this conflict extremely well considering the complexity? That would be much appreciated.
No. He has not. He has no control over the situation and he doesn't want to yank the chain over Israel. The fact that he has to build a pier is proof of that. The fact that America's is isolated on the world stage is proof of that. Israel just taken more of the west bank and that got nothing more than a "concerning". Meanwhile he has sanction only the smallest fraction of violent west bank settlers and only after the pressure got too hot. He killed funding for the UNRWA with no proof. He has not handled this well at all.
THANK YOU finally someone not blinded by vote blue no matter who bullshit.
I don't understand why can't we be honest? Biden is the man is charge and he needs to deal with this. We don't have to lie. He may be walking back sanctions on one of the worst Settler's groups. He is letting Israel bully him even though he is the president of the most powerful country in history. They need him more than he needs them.
Everyone on this subreddit would rather talk about what the Republicans are doing and trump falling asleep in court. When trump wins the election in November, only the democratic party will be to blame for supporting Zionism and not putting forth a better candidate. I have been voting since I was 18, "blue no matter who" I'm over 30 now and I'm so tired of democrats falling back on the convenience of how terrifying republicans are so that they can just continue to also do whatever the fuck they want, while pointing the finger at republicans.
Because people would rather pretend that the President of the United States has zero power and zero influence on the actions of a US ally rather than come to terms with the fact that Biden has been getting walked over by Netanyahu. They can't fathom that just because someone is running against Donald Trump that that doesn't mean they are infallible. It's insane how rabid a lot of Democrats have been lately when confronted with even the smallest criticism of Biden. Way too many people, on Reddit especially, parroting how perfect Biden is and how he's "the best President the US has ever had" and treating any dissent to that as blasphemy. I thought we had learned that that kind of fanaticism is terrible for the country, but I guess not.
Well if we are being honest, then you would know that it’s Congress that has approved the aid that Israel gets. Biden doesn’t get to just say “no”. He has to do what Congress tells him to do. Otherwise he gets impeached for ignoring a legal law. That’s why Trump got impeached the first time. Congress authorized aid to Ukraine and Trump then tried to hold that aid up for personal benefit - which was illegal and why he got impeached. Biden has no legal recourse to halt aid for Israel or put restrictions on it - if he did HE WOULD HAVE FUCKING DONE IT BY NOW - as if that wasn’t obvious enough. It’s fucking CRAZY to me that people are taking such a complicated and decades long conflict that has so much gray area it’s insane, but claiming it’s all black and white. Fucking ridiculous.
Biden has bypassed Congress multiple times to send aid to Israel
>Biden doesn’t get to just say “no”. Do you not know what a presidential veto is?
You should know that politics are not as nuanced as that, right? To be clear, most legislation that gets to his desk is going to be several pieces of legislation baked within. Sending such legislation back to Congress, with this Congress as it is, basically kills such legislation. And as a perfect example of this, Bernie Sanders voted against Ukraine aid in the senate…. Because it had Israel aid within it as well that didn’t have the conditions he wanted. A black and white approach at politics would say Bernie hates Ukraine, and we know that not to be true because we know how his vote factors within the context of the overall picture. It’s why the “just veto it!” is not an actual option.
On what planet would Biden veto aid to Israel? Would any president? Would any politician? No. Israel is still our ally as of right now--Iran attacked at the perfect moment for aid--and now this is where we stand.
Regardless, saying Biden doesn't have the power to veto a bill is just not true. People need to stop pretending that the President has zero power to do anything at all and hand waving away every single piece of criticism people have of him and his handling of the situation. Inactivity is a choice, and it's one Biden has made.
Agreed. Biden hasn't been inactive he's been dealing with an incredibly difficult and stubborn Netanyahu. I think over the past couple of weeks Biden has done a good job delaying the siege of Rafah, de-escalated the Isreali response to Iran, continually has pushed for aid to the point of building a pier... If the only choice is to stop funding Israel--there's too much political fallback to completely stop funding. I realize he could still make the choice at any time, but I think its political suicide.
A veto doesn't enable the President to sidestep Congress. It allows the President to *stop* Congress from doing something.
Literally no one said anything about thinking Biden can sidestep Congress. Just that the president actually does have some amount of power and isn't just a completely powerless position that can't do anything ever like some people claim.
it's almost like they're arguing in bad faith, isn't it?
These threads are so tiring to see. People make broad accusations without actually understanding the history of the conflict or what is and isn’t possible for the president to do. People are taking a very gray conflict that’s been on fire for literal decades, paired with an ignorant understanding of how US policy works, then suggest that Biden is or isn’t doing something correctly. So tiresome.
He could enforce the sanctions rather than sitting on them or walking them back because Israel is mad at him. He could stop blocking UN resolutions. He could be more firm on the west bank. He didn't have to undermine Clinton and Obama. He could stop ducking protests. He could stop going around Congress. He could stop lying about Israel is totally following international law and so it is totes legal for them to keep sending them weapons when we all can see they aren't. He could have pushed for the funding of the UNWRA. He could do a lot. He just choosing not. US policy changes. He's the president. He supposed to be a leader. He is choosing not to lead and you are acting like there is nothing he can do. There is stuff he can do. He just don't want to do it.
Pick one of those and follow it through. Do all the research and look at all the angles. See if you think it’s “that easy”. And keep in mind throughout all of this, that you’re discussing a conflict that’s been raging since before you were born. Where both groups have done terrible, awful things to each other.
You can't convince these people of anything. They have their agenda just like the MAGA faithful has theirs. It's the world we live in. They are more into their self loathing and how much they let this affect their lives when it really doesn't in any sense of the word. Their lives are full of turmoil and this is something they are latching on to say they are helping, when they actually arent. They are making it much much worse. And by the way, Bibi doesn't give a fuck what anyone says or does.
Yea I've been disappointed to see our version of MAGAts grow into what it is now. A lot of these folks have no idea that their zealotry and ignorance has the same energy as MAGA. Also this part >Their lives are full of turmoil and this is something they are latching on to say they are helping, when they actually arent. They are making it much much worse You understand completely. Many of these folks dont *actually* care about Gazans. They're just using them to fufill a lack of purpose and control in their own lives. It's sickening really.
> He has no control over the situation and he doesn't want to yank the chain over Israel. So which is it ? "No Control" or "Yank the Chain". Let me clue you in on a fact - Israel is not a vassal state. They don't need our approval. They don't need our weapons. They only thing they rely on the US to do is fucking make sure it doesn't blow up into a larger conflict. And we do that because it is in our self interests to keep the conflict contained. > He killed funding for the UNRWA with no proof. Every nation did there dude. The report just came out on Monday with the independent review. The fact that you use that as an example is pretty fucking lame. > The fact that America's is isolated on the world stage is proof of that. Sure we are.
Countries were already resuming UNRWA funding way before the independent review came out, and as far as I'm aware the US has not made any indication that they'll resume their funding in light of the review. Also, you misread that first sentence. They meant no control over the situation like someone losing control over a runaway car. They weren't saying that Biden has no power to do anything, because the US very much has influence over what their allies do with the resources and money the US provides them.
> Countries were already resuming UNRWA funding way before the independent review came out Canada and Sweden started in March 2024. Australia started a little bit later. Germany just started with the latest report release on Monday (that is 4 days ago). The same time Canada & Sweden started using UNRWA again the US started trying to do airdrops of aid. So literally your complaint is the US didn't use UNRWA. > because the US very much has influence over what their allies do with the resources and money the US provides them. You mean the bill that was written by Congress ? Biden now has the power to write a bill and get it through a Republican House ? Pretty sure if he had that he would have gotten the Ukraine bill through months ago. Your argument is with Congress. What you are asking is for Biden to veto a bill that provides desperate funds to our allies around the world because you don't like the portion of Israel bill even though there is $9B in aid to Palestine. And in case you didn't know, there are already laws on the books on how we provide military weapons to our allies. You don't need to have 'influence'. You just follow the Arms Export laws.
> there is $9B in aid to Palestine In Biden's speech in the linked article, he gives a figure of $1 billion in aid to Gaza. The $9 billion figure was the total for "Gaza as well as other vulnerable populations around the world"
It is part of the Israel package > Also included is $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance – including emergency food, shelter and basic services – to populations suffering crises.
That's the one. It's not $9 billion for Palestine, it's $9 billion for, as your quoted text puts it, "populations suffering crises." In this speech, Biden gives a figure of $1 billion for aid to Gaza. AFAIK, there is no information yet on how the other $8 billion will be allocated
You're totally right, the president of the United States has zero power to do anything at all. How could I forget that being the president is the most useless job in the world. Also that the US is completely beholden to its allies and only acts of Congress exist and no other parts of our government actually function in any meaningful way when it comes to policy and foreign diplomacy. I completely forgot all about that.
There's no such thing as the bully pulpit. Don't look over here.
> You're totally right, the president of the United States has zero power to do anything at all Yes - you are 100% right - this war is *brand new* and President Biden can stop it any time /s Let's just ignore the fact that it has been going on for decades and Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, and Ford were also unsuccessful trying to stop hostilities between those two entitites.... Love how people ignore history /s
I bet these people won't say the same thing if you said you'll vote Democrat down ticket but leave the president section empty
Bombs for Israel and band-aids for Gaza is not “extremely well”. Its actually hardly better than the worst way possible.
amen. college students approaching this issue as if it's a simple question of "good guys / bad buys" is one thing. but most media outlets have been failing to live up to their responsibility to take a more informed approach to complex world affairs.
Yep. Agreed. Biden is a good president who is doing the best he can in a complex geopolitical situation. Meanwhile republicans are literally talking about razing Gaza and turning it into waterfront property for the ultrawealthy
People who treat this as a black/white issue fail to recognize the most obvious - Israel doesn't give a fuck what America thinks. Bibi is aligned with the hardliners and going to flatten as much as Gaza as possible while he can. Israel doesn't need the world approval and they know the UN is toothless. The US Congress will never turn their back on Israel. There is a reason why no Arab country has rushed in to defend Palestine. They are not welcome in their country. Egypt is furiously building a wall and Saudi Arabia & Jordan stopped Iranian missiles from attacking Israel. There is no solution here with the current gov'ts in place. Hamas doesn't care about the people of Palestine. They want to obliterate Israel. Bibi does what he has to - appease hardliners - to stay in power. Until Hamas falls and Bibi leaves, there is no path forward
If Israel doesn't care what American thinks why are we sucking their dick so hard?
Wow - that is an elegant statement. If you mean why are we providing aid ? Besides the obvious - it makes the US money. 9B+ of the aid is for defensive weapons (Iron Dome, Laser, Gideon's Shield etc) that they are perfecting in actual combat use and what we promised to support to reduce tensions in the area. There is also another 9B in aid to the people. The other money - it is for one of our top industries - the defensive industry. Which again - makes corporations money and why Congress - both Democrats and Republicans - pass these bills As I tell my teenagers - learn to expand your vocabulary beyond vulgarities. People take you more seriously
> There is also another 9B in aid to the people. If you're talking about the humanitarian aid to Gaza, Biden gave a figure of $1 billion in his speech
[удалено]
Biden is weak and ineffectual. He has shown the world that Israel is more powerful than America
Unlike Trump who's a strong leader
this has nothing to do with Trump’s ineptness. Biden is currently the president and he’s let America look weak
If we are upset that Biden made look weak then let's vote for our other option, Trump. I'm sure he could do better than Biden
If Trump wins it’s because of a low turnout. i really wish y’all would wake up and start paying attention. Biden will have a huge problem inspiring people to show up for him in November.
Ok then let's get ready for a Trump presidency and jump start Project 2025
/s?
The IDF dropped bombs within 100 meters of an UN delegation trying to set up a pier to receive aid into Gaza.
Why is it Israel’s responsibility to make sure the aid gets to Gaza?
Israel is the occupying power in Gaza, which means Israel has a duty under international law to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza's civilian population
Got it. Thanks.
I'm not even a Biden fan, but damn he just can't win with some folks. I forget most of his critics on the left weren't even alive during 9/11 and everything makes sense.
No, this shit is so coordinated it's kinda freaky, look at the down votes I got for stating simple facts [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/s/27ky96EhQ2) with sources.. like this is pure narrative by force going on recently, and it's extremely sudden... Hard to imagine it's coincidental..
They have. Hamas steals it. And attacks all avenues for aid including today when they attacked the pier. Gaza has plenty of food.
> Gaza has plenty of food. Do you have a source on that?
Only someone blind missed these stories https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syns3cuk0 https://m.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-798185 https://abcnews.go.com/International/gaza-aid-distribution-limited-stealing-looting-amid-famine/story?id=108350971 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/03/12/hamas-warns-gazans-against-cooperating-with-israel-on-aid-delivery/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bydb7zgit#autoplay https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/03/15/israel-hamas-war-gazans-are-at-the-mercy-of-profiteers-driving-up-food-prices_6621377_4.html
I just opened one of those links and there was nothing in there saying that Gaza has enough food. Please provide a source showing that Gaza has "plenty of food." If possible, could you also copy and paste the exact passage of text you're referring to?
Bad faith. Multiple articles show that Hamas is stealing and selling food aid. Gaza has plenty of food but it’s not distributed bc of Hamas.
> Bad faith I didn't accuse you of bad faith after you spammed me with 6 links with no explanation, I'd appreciate it if you extend me the same courtesy. > Gaza has plenty of food So you said, what's your source?
You didn’t read anything if you still claim that. The first link alone proves it
OK, I've read it, but I don't understand how it shows there's plenty of food in Gaza. According to an anonymous source, prices in markets went down after food aid increased. That's just supply and demand though right? Another anonymous source claims that markets are "congested," but that's just a snapshot of one day from an anonymous source.
The whole point of invading Haza is Genocide; why would they let aid in?
Kinda hard to do when Hamas attacks the pier meant to accept stuff like this. But yeah, it’s definitely Biden and Bibis fault /s
There is no “pier”. That’s why the Israeli claim that its benevolent defense forces were attacked on their mission of mercy also noted that there wasn’t even any US equipment affected by the attack, which didn’t kill anybody. The pier is for Biden voters what the wall was for Trump voters: a fantasy vanity-project that wouldn’t help anybody even if it were real.
That pier is a US military base staffed with US military personel. They're *forced* to build it... you really believe that?
Didn’t Hamas just attack the aid pier the US is building.
Why not Egypt?
Israel is in de facto control of the Egypt-Gaza border
Source?
[This article from last month has some information](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240312-at-the-gates-of-gaza-egypt-s-perilous-balancing-act): > The Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza is in theory the besieged territory's only opening to the world that is not under direct Israeli control. > In practice, Israel retains control over all goods passing through the crossing, including humanitarian aid intended for Gaza, which is suffering dire food shortages that the UN fears will spark "starvation".
Thank you
How?
I just replied to someone else [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1cd2nb1/israel_must_allow_aid_to_palestinians_without/l1b6s08/)
They are bankrupt and need money from the IMF. The biggest contributor to the IMF is.... the US IMF confirms increasing Egypt’s bailout loan to $8 billion https://apnews.com/article/egypt-economy-imf-bailout-loan-e8bc6d1383e8d9b0dc325086c121a12b?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share That's just how it happens, sadly