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7 months ago
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Jill Biden has privately urged the president to end the bloodshed in Gaza, a White House guest has revealed.
Salima Suswell, founder of the Black Muslim Leadership Council, shared how she heard Joe Biden telling other attendees about his wife's wishes.
The exchange on Tuesday unfolded after another of the guests told the president that his wife disapproved of his attendance due to Biden's support for Israel's airstrikes, the New York Times reports.
Biden reportedly replied that he understood, stating that the First Lady has been urging him to 'Stop it, stop it now,' according to Suswell.
The Muslim leader said she was so struck by hearing Jill Biden's view on the matter that she scribbled down the president's comments.
Jill Biden has privately urged the president to end the bloodshed in Gaza , a White House guest has revealed
Salima Suswell, founder of the Black Muslim Leadership Council, shared how she heard Joe Biden telling other attendees about his wife's wishes for an end to the strikes
More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the Hamas attack of October 7 which killed 1,200
Most recently, the IDF killed seven aid workers including US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33
The White House appeared to corroborate the exchange, saying that Biden is as 'outraged' by the civilian casualties as his wife.
More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the Hamas attack of October 7 which killed 1,200.
Most recently, the IDF killed seven aid workers including US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33.
'Just like the president, the first lady is heartbroken over the attacks on aid workers and the ongoing loss of innocent lives in Gaza,' Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady's communications director, said in a statement. 'They both want Israel to do more to protect civilians.'
Her views reflect those of other Democrats, including Senator Chris Coons, who has pressed the president to do more to protect civilians and facilitate aid to the besieged nation.
Around 40 government agencies have also issued their own letters of objection to the president while voters in swing states including Michigan and Wisconsin have threatened to withhold their support over his stance.
But Jill Biden's influence is perhaps the greatest of all. She previously stated in an interview with the New York Times that the president values her instincts.
'I think he trusts my intuition as a spouse, not as a policy person or an adviser,' she said.
Dr Biden's views reflect those of other Democrats, including Senator Chris Coons, who has pressed the president to do more to protect civilians
Voters in swing states including Michigan and Wisconsin have threatened to withhold their support over his stance
Biden said he is 'outraged' by the deaths of the aid workers on Monday, which included US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33
Dr Biden has historically opposed US involvement in overseas conflicts, as her late son Beau had been deployed to Iraq in 2008.
America has no boots on the ground in Israel, but it is funding the country as part of Biden's commitment to supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas.
This position has become increasingly more difficult to square with Biden's purported 'outrage' at civilian deaths in Gaza.
Dr Biden has herself come under scrutiny for her husband's stance and has had numerous speeches interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters accusing the Biden's of supporting genocide.
The president is due to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, according to a senior administration source.
English (US)