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In a national address on Tuesday night, Mr Biden said he emphasised to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, the importance of acting “according to the rule of law”.
“Terrorists purposefully target civilians, kill them,” the US president said, drawing a contrast with democracies like the US and Israel. “We uphold the laws of war. It matters. There’s a difference.”
The comments were later underscored by Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman, who said: “We expect [Israel] to follow international law […] and we will remain in close contact with them about it.”
Following a closed-door briefing in Congress, Democrats expressed concerns that Israel’s offensive in Gaza could harm Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages.
Republicans from across the party’s spectrum emerged from the same meeting to urge Israel to do everything in its power to “crush” Hamas, even if it risked a high civilian death toll.
“If we have shut down the water and the heat, and any kind of support in Gaza, what does that mean? Also for the people who are now hostages right now?” said Democrat congressman Jan Schakowsky.
Some moderate Democrats have pushed back at their progressive counterparts. Congressman Jake Auchincloss said: “Israel did not ask America to de-escalate on Sept 12, 2001.”
‘Raze this place to the ground’
On Tuesday, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator, said Israel was fighting a “religious war”. “Do whatever it takes, raze this place to the ground,” he added.
Orde Kittrie, who spent nearly a decade as a lawyer at the State Department, argued it was “fully consistent” with the laws of war for Israel to refuse to supply Gaza with water, electricity and fuel.
He said: “There is no legal requirement that Israel supply water, electricity or fuel to a power that is seeking its destruction, has just massacred a thousand of its citizens, and is holding dozens of civilians hostage. Did the UK provide Nazi Germany with food and supplies during the Second World War?”
James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, stressed earlier this week that Israel had the right to act “proportionately”.
He travelled to Israel on Wednesday to show “unwavering solidarity with the Israeli people”, according to a Foreign Office spokesman.
At one point, he was forced to take shelter as a siren went off at Ofakim in southern Israel.
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