Biden supports humanitarian 'pause' in Gaza after being heckled by rabbi
The US president suggested that there should a humanitarian "pause" in Gaza after being heckled by a rabbi who called for a ceasefire.
2 min read
US president Joe Biden said he supported a 'humanitarian pause' after a rabbi heckled him [Getty]
US President Joe Biden responded to a heckler at a Minnesota campaign event on Wednesday night, saying he thinks there should be a humanitarian "pause" in the Gaza-Israel conflict to get "prisoners" out of Gaza.
The 80-year-old Democrat leader was delivering remarks to some 200 supporters in the northern US state when a member of the audience shouted out to him.
"As a rabbi, I need you to call for a ceasefire right now," she said, referring to Israel's deadly attacks on Gaza.
The president responded: "I think we need a pause. A pause means giving time to get the prisoners out."
Asked about his remarks, the White House later clarified that by "prisoners" the president was referring to hostages held by Hamas.
Biden engaged further with the woman, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the nickname Bibi.
"I'm the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a ceasefire to let the prisoners out. I'm the guy that talked to (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-)Sisi to convince him to open the door" along Gaza's border with Egypt to allow freed hostages to leave.
Biden indicated that he was discussing the recent release of two US hostages formerly held by the Palestinian group.
Since October 7, Israel's 'hasbara' team has gone into overdrive. A farrago of disinformation, deceit, and deception, Israeli social media harnesses stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims to justify crimes in Gaza
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 2, 2023
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The White House has previously called for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid to be delivered into Gaza or to carry out evacuations, but has so far refused to discuss a ceasefire, believing it would benefit Hamas.
Over 9,000 people have been killed by indiscriminate Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip so far, most of them women and children, with hundreds dying every day.
Israel's war on the besieged Palestinian enclave entered its 26th day on Wednesday.
It began after a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, which killed around 1,400 Israelis.
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