Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File
US Joe Biden arrives to greet King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan (not pictured) at the North Portico of the White House on February 12 in Washington, DC. The President (left) and First Lady Jill Biden. , 2024.
CNN
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President Joe Biden spoke about a recent conversation he had with First Lady Jill Biden regarding the Gaza conflict when he met with Muslim community leaders this week.
According to two participants who attended the rally, one of them warned the president that Joe Biden was reluctant to attend the rally given the intense backlash he has faced over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. said his wife was worried about his decision. meeting.
Attendees told CNN that Biden brought up his wife and closest friends.
Dr. Nareen Ahmed, who was in the room, recalled that the first lady recently told him, “I have to stop.”
Another attendee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CNN that he remembered the president saying that the first lady used the following words: Now Stop it. ”
The attendee said he believed the first lady was suggesting she was seeking an end to the war, but Ahmed questioned whether the first lady’s comments were directed at the Israel-Hamas war as a whole. He said it was unclear whether the move was aimed at increasing the number of deaths. In Gaza.
Asked about the president’s comments, a White House official said the issue “will never see the light of day” between the couple and that they both share anger over the deaths of civilians. The official added that Biden is not asking Israel to stop working against Hamas.
The New York Times first reported the president’s comments referring to the first lady.
The first lady’s top adviser said she was “heartbroken” by the loss of civilian life, including aid workers, and urged Israel to take greater care to ensure the safety of civilians. She said that she sympathizes with her husband’s belief that
“Like the president, the first lady is saddened by the attacks on aid workers and the continuing loss of innocent life in Gaza,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director. She added: “Both countries want Israel to do more to protect civilians.”
The president detailed his wife’s message on the same night he expressed anger over an Israeli airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in the Gaza Strip, including one dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. It was announced on.
The aid organization was founded by chef Jose Andres, a personal friend of the Bidens. Both the president and first lady appeared with Mr. Andres on international trips to highlight the work of World Central Kitchen.
The first lady has only publicly mentioned the conflict between Israel and Hamas a few times.
“When Hamas attacked Israel, Joe knew what to do,” she told donors at an event in Atherton, Calif., in November. “While I would never wish for the tragic events of last month to happen to any American president, I am so grateful to have Joe as president during these uncertain, unpredictable, and turbulent times,” the first lady said. ” she said.
She has also heard complaints from protesters about her husband’s handling of the conflict. The first lady was interrupted at least four times by pro-Palestinian demonstrators during her speech in Tucson, Arizona, last month, and people advocating a ceasefire gathered outside some of her campaign events.
