Biden Threatened to Cut Military Aid to Israel
The president demanded humanitarian aid access to Gaza during a tense call with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in International Relations
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President Joe Biden previously threatened to cut off military aid to Israel during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conversation focused on the opening of additional humanitarian aid crossings into northern Gaza.
Why it matters
The administration sought to end the war and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Officials also feared that Israel faced a significant ballistic-missile attack from Iran.
This historical account documents a demand for humanitarian access following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks. The specific details of the communication were recorded in a recent book regarding hostage negotiations.
The players
Joe Biden
He is the current President of the United States.
Benjamin Netanyahu
He is the Prime Minister of Israel.
Brett McGurk
He is the author of the book documenting this diplomatic exchange.
The details
Before the call, President Biden met with his advisers in the Oval Office to prepare for the discussion. During the conversation, Biden interrupted Netanyahu to insist that Israel allow more aid into northern Gaza, leading Netanyahu to assert that Israel would defend itself without American support.
Timeline
October 7, 2023: Terror attacks occurred in Israel.
Political Context
This exchange highlights the friction between the United States and Israel regarding humanitarian strategy following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks. Opponents of this approach often cite Israel's sovereign right to self-defense as a reason for maintaining unrestricted military support.
This report clarifies the diplomatic tensions that have shaped American foreign policy toward the Middle East. Understanding these executive decisions helps citizens evaluate how military aid conditions impact regional stability and humanitarian relief efforts.
The takeaway
Diplomatic pressure remains a core tool for the U.S. government when managing complex regional conflicts. Maintaining open channels between allies often involves intense negotiations over specific humanitarian and security goals.
Further reading
For broader context on current diplomatic strategies, visit our International Relations section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mediaite.
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Should the U.S. government use military aid to influence the policy decisions of foreign allies?
