In the negotiations over delaying any Israeli land invasion of Gaza until arrangements can be made to secure up to 230 hostages being held in Gaza, there’s been a bizarre sideshow, touching upon U.S.-Israeli relations. Of note, there are at least 10 Americans missing and assumed to be amongst the hostages.
On Oct. 20, President Joe Biden told reporters that he wants Israel to postpone its invasion of Gaza to allow more time for hostages to be released. CNN cited anonymous sources involved in the negotiation to say that Israel had “agreed under U.S. pressure to hold off” the ground invasion. However, the White House immediately walked back Biden’s comment, saying that the President has no input into Israel’s plans. CNN reported that a White House official told them that “we’re not directing the Israelis, the timeline is theirs—their thinking, their planning.”
That evening, as Biden was boarding Air Force One for his flight to his Delaware beach house, he was asked whether he was urging Israel to delay sending troops into Gaza. Biden answered, “Yes.” Within an hour, White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt gave reporters an updated account: “The President was far away. He didn’t hear the full question.” Instead of a question about delaying Israeli troops being sent into Gaza, LaBolt explained: “The question sounded like ‘Would you like to see more hostages released?’ He wasn’t commenting on anything else.”
The next day, Oct. 21, Biden was finally a bit more circumspect. When asked if he was encouraging Israel to delay the invasion, he responded: “I’m talking to the Israelis.”
It’s tough running proxy wars, and it doesn’t get easier having an octogenarian in the lead.
