Seven current and former U.S. government officials have expressed displeasure, saying President Joe Biden did not “exert enough force” on Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel attacked staff at Gaza food charity World Central Kitchen last week. pressure”.

Seven officials told the BBC that Biden’s pressure on Israel is “not enough” to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The officials, who have called for an end to arms transfers from the United States to Israel, said divisions within the Biden administration were becoming “deeper, broader and more desperate.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged he would open new aid routes to Gaza, Biden said after deadly attack on food charity’s convoy that killed seven aid workers, including an American Canadian The government warned it would reassess its policy.

Annelle Sheline, a human rights official who quit the State Department two weeks ago in protest, called Biden’s tough stance “too little, too late.” She said the situation in Gaza would have been better if the White House had taken these measures months ago.

One of the four current US government officials who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity said Israel was doing “the bare minimum”. The official said Biden’s actions after Israel attacked aid workers in Gaza did not reflect any “moral urgency.”

“I think Israel is taking the bare minimum to get through the day and avoid arms transfers being stopped,” the official told the BBC.

After attacks on WCK workers in Gaza, Biden issued an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding an “immediate” ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and an “immediate” hostage deal.

After Biden’s call to Natanyahu, the Israeli government pledged to improve security coordination with groups delivering aid to Palestinians and ensure the Erez crossing in northern Gaza and the port of Ashdod in southern Israel are open to facilitate aid. .

President Biden said on Monday, April 8, that Netanyahu’s vow that Israel would eliminate Hamas brigades in Gaza, including Rafah, would be a “mistake.”

In his latest statement, Joe Biden called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to ensure the delivery of food and medicine aid to Gaza.

A State Department spokesman said the United States “has made clear to Israel at the highest levels, both publicly and privately, that Israel must abide by international humanitarian law.”